Gezicht op de ruïne van Schloss Heidelberg 1868 - 1890

Philipp Remelé made this stereoscopic photograph of Heidelberg Castle sometime in the mid-19th century. This image offers insight into the cultural and institutional contexts of the time. The image is part of a series of stereoscopic views meant for entertainment and education, fitting into the burgeoning tourism industry and the public's fascination with historical landmarks. Stereoscopic images, popular in the 19th century, were often marketed as tools for armchair travel, offering a semblance of experiencing distant places. This photograph flattens the once formidable castle into a picturesque ruin, consumed by nature and viewed from afar. The choice to depict the castle in ruins highlights a romanticized view of the past, a common theme in 19th-century art and literature. A historian researching this image would need to understand the social and economic transformations of the time to properly understand its meaning.