Vijver met een fontein te Bad Harzburg 1880

This is "Vijver met een fontein te Bad Harzburg," a stereoscopic photograph by Sophus Williams, captured in 1899. As photography democratized image-making, it also created opportunities for people to represent themselves and their environments. Williams, who was based in Berlin, was attuned to the rise in popularity of health tourism in Germany. Here he presents the leisure and beauty found at the spa town of Bad Harzburg. The scene presents us with a fountain in the middle of a pond, framed by lush trees, promising health and relaxation. Stereoscopic photography was popular during the 19th century, offering a unique, immersive viewing experience. This format allowed viewers to feel present in a scene far removed from their immediate surroundings, tapping into a desire for escape and exploration. Images like these gave access to experiences and locations previously reserved for the upper classes. The pond and fountain, while seemingly serene, hint at a changing society, one in which leisure and health became increasingly marketable commodities.