Gezicht richting het centrum van Wenen vanuit Mariahilf 1870 - 1877

This anonymous photograph shows a view toward the center of Vienna from Mariahilf. This stereoscopic image, a popular form of entertainment in the 19th century, presents us with more than just a street scene. The photograph invites us to consider Vienna's rapid urban transformation during this period. The city was undergoing significant expansion and modernization. As the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Vienna was also a center of political power and cultural innovation. We can see the wide, planned boulevards, a testament to the ambition of urban planners and the social engineering of the time, seeking to control and order public space. Understanding this image requires us to look into archives, city plans, and social histories. Only then can we appreciate the layers of meaning embedded in this seemingly simple photograph and consider the politics of urban development.