The beginnings of photography coincided with the need to document dismantling work. Until then, it was forbidden to photograph secret fortification works. With the discovery and spread of this new medium, there were no limits to its use. As the city grew, there was a pressing need to record new and old buildings in illustrated form, and to document its constantly changing topography.
Photographers soon set up shop in Luxembourg, serving the needs of the bourgeoisie at the turn of the century. All branches of the discipline were covered: unknown photographers, well-known photographers (Mehlbreuer, Kuhn, Maroldt), the manufacture of phototype albums by Charles Bernhoeft and commercial photography by Frith, in London. Stereophotographs were very popular, particularly at trade fairs.
The abundant documentation on the construction of the Adolphe Bridge is one of the earliest examples of technical photography.
