Kirchberg an der Pielach 1882

Josef Maria Eder made this photographic print, Kirchberg an der Pielach, using a traditional gelatin silver process. The print's sepia tone comes from the chemical development of silver halides on a gelatin-coated paper, a relatively accessible process at the time. The soft focus and warm tones evoke a nostalgic view of rural life, yet the stacks of lumber in the foreground hint at a different story. The crisp, machine-cut planks suggest the industrialization of timber production and its impact on the Austrian landscape. The wood, carefully stacked and ready for use, highlights the tension between the traditional agrarian lifestyle and the encroaching forces of modern capitalism. Eder doesn't shy away from showing us how the extraction of resources impacts even the most idyllic settings. Ultimately, this photograph reminds us that even seemingly timeless images are products of their time, shaped by both the artist's vision and the social and economic realities of the world around them.