Groepsportret vier vrouwen met petten op, zittend op rijtuig op een rails c. 1870 - 1900

Paul Ney made this photograph, 'Groepsportret vier vrouwen met petten op, zittend op rijtuig op een rails', meaning 'Group portrait of four women with caps, sitting on a carriage on rails', in the late 19th century. This image presents an intriguing glimpse into the social and industrial history of the Berchtesgaden salt mine in Germany. The women are formally dressed and are wearing caps. This suggests a possible link to the institutional framework of the mine itself. Whether they were workers, supervisors, or even visitors adhering to specific dress codes is unclear. The photograph presents the mine as a modern institution, and women's role in the workplace. Historical research into the Berchtesgaden salt mine would undoubtedly provide further insights into the social dynamics captured here. By examining the archive material, we can move closer to understanding the institutional structures of the time.