Staatsbrücke over de Salzach en het kapucijnenklooster bij Salzburg 1868

This stereoscopic image, created by Charles Gaudin, captures the Staatsbrücke over the Salzach with the Kapuzinerkloster in Salzburg. The photographic process itself – coating a glass plate with light-sensitive emulsion, exposing it in a camera, and then developing a print - was still relatively novel. It democratized image-making, but also relied on specialized labor: from the chemists who prepared the materials to the photographers who operated the equipment. The image is a study in tonal range. The soft sepia tones and subtle gradations bring out the texture of the architecture and foliage. The stereoscopic format, designed to mimic human vision, invites us to immerse ourselves in the scene. Though mass production and the industrial revolution have certainly advanced, it is in its infancy. The photograph acts as a cultural artifact, reflecting an interest in capturing and disseminating views of the world. The mass-produced nature of stereoscopic images speaks to broader shifts in labor, politics, and consumption, challenging the historical distinction between fine art and the everyday.