Gevel van het Hertogelijk Paleis te Genua c. 1866

Alfredo Noack captured this stereo card image of the Ducal Palace in Genoa using photography, a relatively new technology in the 19th century. Photography’s rise was deeply intertwined with industrialization and capitalism. It was a chemical process, after all, involving mass-produced materials like glass plates and developing solutions. The very act of capturing and distributing images became a business, with studios popping up to meet the demand for portraits and views. This image, printed in multiples, speaks to photography's role in shaping perceptions and creating a shared visual culture. Look at the way Noack has framed the palace, emphasizing its grandeur and scale. This wasn't just documentation; it was a carefully constructed representation intended for consumption. By considering the processes of image-making, we see how photography blurred the lines between art, industry, and commerce. The very existence of this photograph challenges the idea of the artwork as a unique, handcrafted object.