Slot Stolzenfels met het dorp Kapellen aan de Rijn 1872

This is a photograph by Johann Friedrich Stiehm, capturing Stolzenfels Castle with the village of Kapellen on the Rhine. The composition is structured around a clear horizontal division, with the river in the foreground, followed by the village, and then the imposing castle perched on a hill in the background. Stiehm uses the river as a reflective plane, creating a doubling effect that adds depth and symmetry. The subdued, monochromatic tones emphasize the architectural details of the castle and the quaintness of the village. The formal arrangement invites us to consider how structures, both natural and man-made, define space. The castle, a symbol of power and history, looms over the village, suggesting a hierarchy and a narrative of control. This interplay of elements encourages a reading of the photograph not just as a depiction of a place, but as a commentary on social and spatial relationships.