Tugendbrunnen in Neurenberg 1868 - 1888

Curator: This is a stereo photograph, dating from between 1868 and 1888, by Johann Friedrich Stiehm. It’s titled “Tugendbrunnen in Neurenberg,” depicting a cityscape with a prominent fountain. Editor: It has a solemn and timeless air; something about the subdued tones evokes a sense of history holding its breath. The architecture looms like stoic witnesses around the ornate fountain. Curator: Precisely. The materiality is key here: Stiehm likely employed the wet collodion process, popular at the time for its clarity and detail. The creation of stereo views also became quite industrialized during the mid to late 19th century, feeding a voracious appetite for armchair travel and creating the 'photo tourist'. Editor: I find it fascinating how these two seemingly identical images blend together, constructing depth—as if whispering secrets of three-dimensional space onto a flat card. Don't you just feel a silent yearning to step into that old square? Curator: Well, what’s striking to me is the very process of replication. Each print would require specific knowledge in the darkroom in addition to potentially lengthy exposures required outside. Editor: Think about that craftsmanship—turning light and chemicals into these precious glimpses! You could even imagine the photographer adjusting their instruments meticulously within bustling markets or hushed cobbled paths. Curator: And it's important not to overlook how this seemingly objective recording becomes an exercise in social documentation and commodity. These photos offer a selective viewpoint, catering towards popular taste, and therefore must be viewed critically to glean real historical insight. Editor: Absolutely. Viewing the photograph, I felt such a palpable sense of stillness amidst that implied narrative. Curator: Indeed. It’s an artifact steeped in production and social currents—worth a closer look at Stiehm’s material practice. Editor: This image gives one a powerful glimpse, or perhaps an invitation, into the world as seen through somebody else's curious, faraway eye.