Reisalbum met foto's van Zwitserland, Oostenrijk, Italië en Duitsland c. 1860 - 1900

This green leather travel photo album contains images from Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and Germany made by various photographers. These albums, bound with gilt tooling, were popular in the late 19th century as a means of collecting and displaying photographic mementos of one’s travels. Photography in the 19th century was becoming increasingly accessible. This accessibility allowed for the rise of a new kind of tourist. One with a camera in hand, ready to capture the picturesque views of Europe. This album then, speaks to the growth of leisure travel among the middle classes, enabled by the expansion of railways and the increasing affordability of photography. As a historian, I would look into travel guides, tourist accounts, and the history of photography, to understand the cultural significance of these images and the act of collecting them into an album. I would reflect on the ways in which institutions like tourism and photography shape our understanding and experience of the world.