Gezicht op Sankt Goar en de Rijn 1878

This stereoscopic photograph, taken by Johann Friedrich Stiehm, captures Sankt Goar on the Rhine, circa 1878. Dominating the scene is the river itself, a powerful symbol of life and commerce, but also of division. The Rhine has long been a border, a space of transit and conflict. We see the town nestled between the river and the steep hills, a visual representation of humanity's attempt to create order in the face of nature's overwhelming force. The high church tower looms over the town, a symbol that stretches back through history. The tower has been, and continues to be, an icon of spiritual aspiration, guiding the eye, just as the church is meant to guide the soul. The train tracks, too, speak of a new kind of aspiration. The linear marks point toward modern progress, contrasting with the natural flow of the river. The presence of the church juxtaposed with the train tracks captures the tension between traditional faith and emerging modernity. Both, in their own way, seek to transcend the earthly realm.