Appenzell
1809
Franz Niklaus König was essentially the 19th-century equivalent of a street style photographer, traveling through Switzerland to document traditional folk costumes. In this 1809 scene from the Appenzell region, a farmer casually strolls with a massive bundle of hay on his back, pipe in mouth, looking surprisingly relaxed for such a heavy load. Beside him, a woman in a vibrant bodice and striped apron holds a bouquet, embodying the Romantic era's fascination with the 'noble peasant' and idyllic rural life. These prints were hugely popular souvenirs for tourists, eager to take home a colorful piece of Swiss culture.