Gezicht op Mainz vanaf de Dom van Mainz 1860 - 1890

This stereoscopic image of Mainz, Germany, was produced by Ferrier Père-Fils et Soulier. The view, captured from the Mainz Cathedral, presents a panorama of the city, seemingly suspended in time. What can a picture like this tell us about the period in which it was made? The late nineteenth century was a time of great transformation, in which cityscapes changed rapidly. The relatively low density of buildings speaks to a society that existed before the pressures of mass urbanization transformed most European cities. Stereoscopic images were a popular form of entertainment and education, offering viewers a virtual experience of distant places. The existence of companies like Ferrier Père-Fils et Soulier and institutions like the Mainz Cathedral played a crucial role in shaping cultural values and disseminating information. Looking at photographs like this with a knowledge of the institutions and social conditions that shaped their production gives us new insight into the past.