Gezicht op Altenahr, Duitsland 1869 - 1872

This is a stereoscopic photograph of Altenahr, Germany, created by Johann Friedrich Stiehm. It is a double image printed on paper, designed to be viewed with a stereoscope, which would give the scene a three-dimensional quality. The photographic process itself is crucial here. Stiehm was part of a wave of commercial photographers who captured scenes for a burgeoning tourist market. The reproducibility of photography, especially with stereoscopic views, meant that landscapes and landmarks could be packaged and sold, creating a visual economy. Consider the labor involved: from the photographer, to the printers, to the distributors, each contributing to the commodification of this scene. It collapses traditional distinctions between art and commerce. It is a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images carry complex social and economic histories.