Gezicht op de Notre Dame te Parijs c. 1850 - 1880

This stereo photograph showing the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was made by LF. In this period, the relatively new technology of photography became increasingly intertwined with tourism and the representation of major cultural landmarks. The stereo format offered viewers an enhanced sense of depth and realism, further popularizing the medium as a form of virtual travel and cultural consumption. Photographs like this one played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of Paris as a center of culture and history. The Notre Dame, prominently featured, was not just a religious building but also a symbol of French identity and national pride. The carefully composed scene, with the bridge and river adding depth, speaks to the deliberate construction of Paris as a visual spectacle. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context. Art historians would look at the era's guidebooks, travelogues, and photographic inventories to better understand the forces that shaped the image and its reception.