Gezicht op de Big Ben of Londen c. 1850 - 1880

This stereograph of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben was made by Valentine Blanchard, a leading London photographer. The popularity of photographs like this in the Victorian period reflects the growing importance of mass media in shaping public opinion. The image shows the Houses of Parliament, including the Clock Tower, also called Big Ben. The architecture conveys authority and permanence and the presence of horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians indicates a vibrant urban life. Produced in London, this photograph can be contextualized by the rapid industrialization and urbanization of England in the 19th century, along with the expansion of its empire. As a commercial photograph, its existence is also dependent on new markets for art and new institutions to exhibit them, such as the stereoscope parlors that were fashionable at the time. Photographs like these were not merely records but tools that shaped how people understood their world, by presenting carefully framed visions of progress and stability. By analyzing such images and related documents, we can gain a deeper understanding of Victorian society and the social and political forces that shaped it.