Mariakerk en de Sint-Severuskerk in Erfurt, Duitsland 1875 - 1885

This stereograph, showing the Mariakerk and the Sint-Severuskerk in Erfurt, Germany, was produced by E. Schüler, a photographer active in Berlin. It belongs to a vast history of photographic images, which emerged in the 19th century and boomed with the rise of industrial capitalism. Note the materiality of the photographic print. The tonal range, composition, and atmospheric perspective work together to create a compelling illusion of depth. The image also reveals the processes of its own making – the subtle variations, soft focus, and sepia tones, which create an atmosphere of nostalgic longing for a timeless past. Stereographs like this were produced in huge quantities. They met the Victorian era's insatiable demand for tourism, and to feed the development of middle-class aspirations. This print, therefore, is more than just a beautiful image; it's a tangible record of changing social patterns, new technologies, and the commercialization of culture. It reminds us that art and design are always embedded in broader economic and political realities.