Gezicht op Salzburg met de vesting Hohensalzburg, gezien vanaf de Kapuzinerberg 1874 - 1875

Carl Friedrich Würthle made this stereoscopic photograph of Salzburg and the Hohensalzburg Fortress. The image is printed on card, a popular format for distributing photographic views to a mass market. Stereoscopy was a late-industrial technology, a booming business by the late 19th century. The special camera and viewer create a 3-D effect, giving the viewer an immersive experience. It was a clever way to generate revenue from a place like Salzburg, packaging it for faraway consumers. The appeal here lies in the crisp detail, the way the architecture is brought into sharp focus, and the contrast between the built environment and the natural world. It’s a carefully composed image, made for easy consumption. Consider this photograph as an early form of mass media, distributing images of culture and place across the globe, effectively shrinking it. It underscores the vital role of photography in shaping perceptions of places, while also commodifying their cultural significance.