Gezicht op een restaurant op de Neroberg in Wiesbaden c. 1890 - 1895

Curator: This albumen print, taken circa 1890 to 1895 by Römmler & Jonas, offers a glimpse into a restaurant on Neroberg in Wiesbaden. It now resides in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: There’s something wistful about it. A muted, sepia tone and an almost palpable stillness, like a memory captured just before it fades entirely. It is like observing history from a comfortable distance. Curator: Albumen prints were incredibly popular at the time for their sharpness and detail. Coating paper with egg whites before applying the light-sensitive silver nitrate created this crisp, detailed image. It also was very labor-intensive, of course. The paper stock too must be carefully considered. Editor: Absolutely. I am fascinated by the everyday opulence implied by the scene—a leisurely restaurant, manicured landscaping, and the architecture rising above it all. People seeking respite, luxury…the social implications of leisure are evident here. Curator: Consider that these prints were often sold as souvenirs. Think of the layers of commodity involved – tourism, the photographic materials, and even the experience being neatly packaged and sold. Editor: And sold to whom, exactly? To those who had the resources to travel and consume. The photographic process, while offering a semblance of objectivity, still reflected the era's class dynamics, influencing whose stories got told. It's as if each albumen print carries a sediment of economic reality. Curator: Exactly, yet look how this view transcends simple representation. The play of light and shadow among the trees gives a texture— a sense of being there on a summer afternoon long ago. It's about capturing a feeling. Editor: Feeling… of what was gained, yes, but also what disappeared over time, washed away with changing trends and economies? Makes me wonder what endures, and what fades to sepia tones with each generation's relentless need for renewal. Curator: Indeed. There is something comforting, and melancholic, in realizing its time-bound state. Editor: A poignant thought to linger with. Thanks for pointing that out.