Gezicht op de Elbe en de Marienbrücke in Dresden, Duitsland 1873 - 1890

This stereoscopic card showing the Elbe and the Marienbrücke in Dresden was created by S.P. Christmann, a photographer active in Berlin and Paris. Such cards were a popular form of entertainment and a means of experiencing places from afar in the late 19th century. The image presents us with a picturesque view of Dresden, highlighting its architecture and the natural beauty of the Elbe River. The Marienbrücke, a bridge symbolizing progress and connectivity, is presented here for a growing urban population. As an artistic and cultural center, Dresden was also a site of political tensions and social change. This image, by circulating widely, might have contributed to a sense of shared identity and pride or to the creation of stereotypes about German culture and landscape. Understanding this image means knowing about 19th-century photography, German history, and the growth of tourism. Research into photographic archives, city planning documents, and guidebooks can provide further insights into the making and meaning of this image.