Interieur van een kapel in de Mezquita in Córdoba 1862 - 1876

Jean Andrieu made this stereograph of the Mezquita in Córdoba, likely in the 1860s, using a camera and darkroom chemistry. What is striking is that photography – a relatively new medium at the time – is applied to a very old subject, a Moorish chapel. The process involves the careful manipulation of light and shadow, transforming architecture into a portable, reproducible image. Look closely, and you'll notice the intricate details of the chapel's columns and arches. Andrieu would have understood the chemical processes required to produce the photograph, manipulating the variables to achieve the desired contrast and clarity. While the photograph captures a static scene, it also hints at the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation. The act of photographing the chapel also speaks to the rise of tourism and the commodification of culture. Ultimately, this stereograph invites us to consider the complex relationship between seeing, making, and understanding.