Vakwerkhuis in Weinheim before 1865

Francis Frith captured this image of a half-timbered house in Weinheim, Germany sometime in the mid-19th century, using the collotype process. Frith’s photograph gives us insight into the intersection of commerce, tourism, and visual culture during the Victorian era. The image is featured within a book, suggesting it was created as part of a larger project aimed at showcasing picturesque European locations to a British audience. The collotype printing method allowed for the mass production of photographic images, making them accessible to a broader public. The choice of subject matter is interesting. The quaint, traditional architecture of Weinheim reflects a romanticized view of European life that was popular among travelers at the time. Understanding the social conditions that shaped Frith's work requires that we consider the development of mass media and travel during this time. A deeper understanding of the institutional context of photography and publishing can be gained from library collections, archives and printed ephemera.