Burg Arras, Alf, Rijnland-Palts, Duitsland c. 1880 - 1910

This albumen print shows Burg Arras in Alf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and was made by Léon & Lévy. The image presents a constructed view of nature, where we can see a weir, a bridge and a small castle resting above a densely wooded hill. It reminds us that the late nineteenth century was an age of nation-building. Romantic images of the countryside, like this one, were often used to construct a sense of shared history and identity. They served as a tool to inspire feelings of national pride. As an art historian, I might look at the printmaking industry of the period, and at who was buying these kinds of images. Were they being sold as souvenirs to tourists? Were they used in schools? By looking at the social and institutional contexts, we can better understand the cultural work that this image was doing.