Gezicht op de Arco de Santa María te Burgos 1872 - 1876

Jean Andrieu made this stereo card photograph of the Arco de Santa María in Burgos, Spain, sometime in the mid-19th century. Stereo cards like this one gained popularity at the time, offering viewers a portable, pseudo-three-dimensional experience of faraway places. The Arco de Santa María itself is no mere gate; it's a statement of power, embellished with statues of historical figures central to Burgos’ identity. Originally a medieval defense, its 16th-century makeover transformed it into a triumphal arch, a literal gateway that visually reinforced the city’s narrative of its own past. The choice to depict the Arco in this format then speaks to the rise of tourism and the commodification of cultural heritage. As historians, we can look into municipal archives, travelogues, and photographic journals to uncover the social and institutional contexts that shaped both the Arco and its representation. It allows us to understand the complex interplay between power, memory, and representation.