Schillerdenkmal te Stuttgart c. 1860 - 1870

This stereoscopic photograph captures the Schiller monument in Stuttgart and was created by Traugott Richard. At first glance, one is struck by the repetitive symmetry, a consequence of the stereoscopic format, which mirrors the architectural elements within the frame. The image evokes a sense of structured order through the balanced positioning of the monument and surrounding buildings. The composition invites us to consider how photography, like architecture, creates meaning through deliberate construction. Notice how the stereoscopic effect not only mimics three-dimensional space but also emphasizes the constructed nature of perception itself. By presenting a duplicated reality, the artist prompts us to reflect on the nature of representation and the subjective experience of viewing art. This duplication serves as a visual echo, resonating with the monument's own function as a site of memory and cultural significance. The very act of stereoscopic photography, with its dual perspective, challenges the notion of a singular, fixed viewpoint, and instead presents reality as a composite of differing perspectives.