Rittergasse in Stolberg, rechts de Rathskeller 1868 - 1890

This is a stereoscopic card created by H. Selle, which captures the Rittergasse in Stolberg, featuring the Rathskeller. The card offers a three-dimensional glimpse into late 19th-century Germany, a period marked by rapid industrialization and urbanization under the newly unified German Empire. Selle's choice to photograph this scene is not merely documentary; it reflects a broader cultural interest in preserving images of traditional German townscapes amidst modernization. Stereoscopic photography was extremely popular, offering a kind of virtual tourism to middle-class families. This image caters to a desire for both the familiar and the novel, presenting a quaint, ordered view of German life. The architecture, particularly the timber-framed buildings and the Rathskeller, speaks to a long history of local governance and community life. Yet, the presence of horse-drawn carts hints at the changing economic landscape, where trade and transportation were becoming increasingly central to daily life. Consider, as you look, the way this image constructs a narrative of progress, carefully balancing the old with the new.