Kloostergang in het cisterciënzerklooster Walkenried 1868 - 1890

This stereoscopic image by Hermann Selle shows the cloister of Walkenried Abbey. It was produced using a photographic process that gives the illusion of three dimensions when viewed through a special viewer. Photography, like any craft, is very much a process of production. This photographic print involves a series of skillful operations: from capturing the initial image with a camera, to developing the negative, printing and mounting it. The sepia tone influences the way we perceive the image, giving it an antique, timeless quality. Its texture, weight, and even its smell contribute to our understanding of the subject. The proliferation of photographic images like this one, documenting architectural wonders, cathedrals, and landscapes, served to record and promote them as part of a burgeoning tourist industry. It also raised questions about authenticity, reproduction and the relationship between art, labor, and the expanding market economy. By considering these elements, we recognize that photography has a profound social and cultural impact, challenging the distinctions between fine art, craft, and commerce.