Aanzicht op een dal, met huizen en een houtwerkerij [?], Duitsland [?] c. 1900 - 1925

Gustav Salzer’s photograph shows a German valley with houses and what’s likely a woodworking shop. The undated image provides insight into Germany’s landscape and economy during Salzer’s lifetime, between 1854 and 1910. Germany’s economy at the time was rapidly industrializing, yet woodworking and other traditional crafts still played a crucial role, particularly in rural areas like this valley. The presence of a woodworking shop suggests a local economy rooted in natural resources. The winding road is also notable. Roads and other infrastructure were the arteries through which the raw materials of the countryside flowed into the manufacturing cities, and from which the finished goods flowed back. To better understand this image, one could research the history of woodworking in Germany, looking at the location of workshops and the social status of the workers. Economic data and census records of the time would also shed light on the cultural context of this photograph. This image is an eloquent reminder that art is always embedded in its economic and social context.