Gezicht op Baden-Baden met het Friedrichsbad en de Stiftskirche 1890s

This albumen print captures Baden-Baden in Germany, showing the Friedrichsbad and the Stiftskirche. The image presents a carefully constructed view of the town. Baden-Baden was a famous spa town, attracting wealthy visitors seeking health and leisure. This photograph, made for commercial purposes, promotes this image, showcasing the town's notable architecture against the backdrop of the Black Forest. The Friedrichsbad, a Roman-style bath, symbolized the town's commitment to health and well-being. Such imagery played a crucial role in shaping the town's identity and attracting tourism. By focusing on visual codes and cultural references, we gain insight into the social and economic forces that shaped the town. Understanding the image requires investigating the social and institutional contexts of Baden-Baden at the time. This emphasizes the role of the historian in interpreting art and the contingency of art's meaning on social and institutional context.