This stereoview presents the Place Kléber (Kleberplatz) in Strasbourg, centered on the bronze statue of General Jean-Baptiste Kléber atop its pedestal, enclosed by an ornamental iron railing. An elaborate cast-iron lamppost stands at left, while the background is dominated by the war-damaged façade of the Aubette, its windows blown out and mounds of rubble piled along the building's base. The scene documents the aftermath of the Prussian bombardment during the siege of Strasbourg in the Franco-Prussian War, with the square still cleared of pedestrians and marked by debris.
The mount bears the printed imprint of Verlag Attenhofer & Cie, Zürich, together with the credit "T. Richard, Photogr., Männedorf, Zürichsee" along the left border, identifying the Swiss firm as publisher and distributor of this documentary view; the negative was likely acquired or commissioned specifically for a series of stereoviews recording the destruction at Strasbourg following its capitulation in September 1870.
Photographer/publisher: T. Richard, published by Attenhofer & Cie, Zürich
Period/date: circa 1870
Dimensions: 175 x 85 mm
Condition: Good; even sepia toning throughout, with light surface soiling and minor edge wear to the mount. A small chip is present at the lower left corner. The prints remain stable and sharply detailed, with no significant foxing, tears, or creases observed.
Reverse: No verso scan available.
Keywords: Strasbourg, Kléber monument, Franco-Prussian War, stereoview, Attenhofer
Photographer Biography:
Traugott Richard was active as a photographer in Switzerland during the 1860s and 1870s, working from Männedorf on the Zürichsee.
He is primarily documented for hand-tinted studio photographs of Swiss regional costumes, issued under series titles such as "Costumes Suisses."
His work was distributed through Swiss publishing houses, including Verlag Attenhofer & Cie of Zürich, whose imprint appears on this mount.
No verified biographical information is available regarding a dedicated documentary trip to Strasbourg in 1870, though Swiss publishers commonly issued topical stereoviews of the Franco-Prussian War shortly after events occurred.
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