Gezicht op Salzburg, gezien vanaf het kapucijnenklooster 1862 - 1874

This panoramic view of Salzburg was made anonymously, using the then-new technology of photography. The image consists of two nearly identical photographs placed side by side, meant to be viewed through a stereoscope to create a three-dimensional effect. The photographic process itself is critical here. Unlike painting, which was still considered high art, photography was rapidly becoming democratized. It was no longer necessary to be wealthy to have one's portrait made, or to own an image of a beautiful view like this one. The development of photography went hand in hand with that of mass production and distribution. The fact that this is a double image points to another aspect of capitalism: that it always offers more. Just as the stereoscope viewer’s two eyes are required to produce an image of depth, two photographs are mounted side by side on a card, creating a spectacle for a mass audience that demanded more for less. In understanding this image, it is important to consider not only the picturesque scene of Salzburg, but the technology and social context that made its widespread distribution possible.