Exterieur van de Sankt Nikolaikirche te Hamburg 1876

This is a stereoscopic card of the Sankt Nikolaikirche in Hamburg, created by Sophus Williams in 1876. Sophus Williams's photograph exists within a specific historical and cultural context, and the church itself is not without its own layered history. In 1842 the original church burnt down in the great fire of Hamburg, and a new church was built on the same site between 1846 and 1874. This image captures a moment in the churches history, only two years after its completion. During the Second World War the church was heavily damaged and only its crypt, parts of its outer wall and its spire remained. Today, the church serves as a memorial and an important architectural landmark. The stereoscopic format offers viewers a unique, almost immersive experience, enabling a sense of presence within a historical moment. Sophus Williams's photograph not only documents the architecture of the Sankt Nikolaikirche, but also evokes a sense of remembrance, loss and resilience.