Marmerverwerking in Rübeland 1868 - 1890

This stereoscopic photograph by Hermann Selle captures a settlement in Rübeland. Its title, “Marmerverwerking in Rübeland” suggests a village defined by the processes of marble production. Stereoscopic photographs like this one were a common form of mass media in the late 19th century. By mounting two nearly identical images side-by-side, then viewing them through a special lens, people could experience a crude form of 3D. This gave them an immersive sense of being in the scene depicted. While photography today is largely digital, in this period, it was a complex and time-consuming process. Each print required careful preparation of chemicals, precise timing of exposure, and expert knowledge of printing techniques. Photographs like this one were produced in multiples, and sold to a mass audience hungry for visual representations of the world. They reveal a society increasingly engaged with mass production and consumption, even in the realm of art. Selle’s photograph reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the product of skilled labor, industrial processes, and a complex social context.