Abdij van Ettal, Duitsland 1863 - 1868

Johann Friedrich Stiehm made this photograph of the Abdij van Ettal in Germany in the mid-19th century. Stiehm was a sought-after photographer whose work documented the changing landscapes of Europe during a period of industrial expansion and social transformation. Here, the grand architecture of the Abbey, set against the backdrop of the German mountains, evokes a sense of timelessness, yet the very act of photographing it speaks to modernity’s incursion on tradition. Stiehm's lens transforms the Abbey into a subject of contemplation. Consider what it meant to capture such a place, to hold its image, and reflect on its significance during an era of shifting cultural values. The photograph invites us to consider the Abbey as a site of memory, spirituality, and power, and asks how these elements are perceived and preserved through the act of documentation.