Pfleiderhaus aan de Andreasplatz in Hildesheim 1880 - 1900

E. Mertens & Cie made this photograph of the Pfleiderhaus in Hildesheim, Germany. While undated, we can still use it as a lens through which to examine the social and cultural values of its time. This image presents a very particular view of German history through its architecture. The half-timbered building evokes a romanticized vision of the medieval past. Architectural preservation became a powerful way for Germany to construct a sense of national identity. This developed in relation to the country's rapid industrialization and urbanization and it's desire to connect to a perceived golden age. To truly understand this photograph, we need to consider how such images circulated, and the social function they served. Researching the Pfleiderhaus itself, alongside the broader history of architectural photography and preservation movements in Germany, offers a fuller picture. It highlights the ways photographs don't just passively record the world, but actively shape our understanding of it.