Gezicht op Sankt Andreasberg 1868 - 1890

This stereoscopic card showing a view of Sankt Andreasberg was made by Hermann Selle, likely in the late 19th century. As a stereoscopic image, it relies on a mechanical apparatus to create an illusion of depth, offering the viewer a simulated experience of being there. Photography, particularly in this format, was part of a broader culture of industrialization and mass production. This was not about the individual artistic touch, but about capturing and disseminating views for a wide audience. The very repeatability of the photographic print speaks to the increasing mechanization of image-making. The image itself documents a specific place and time, but it also participates in the social and economic systems that enabled its production and distribution. Photography like this contributed to shaping perceptions of landscape and culture, turning far-off places into consumable images. By understanding the materials and processes behind this photograph, we see it not just as a record, but as a product of its time, embedded in networks of labor, technology, and commerce.