Gezicht op het Palacio de San Telmo in Sevilla 1862 - 1876

Jean Andrieu captured the Palacio de San Telmo in Seville using a stereograph, a medium which gained popularity in the mid-19th century for its ability to create a three-dimensional image when viewed through a stereoscope. This photograph invites us to reflect on the relationship between architecture and power. Originally constructed as a maritime school, the Palacio later became a royal residence, embodying the shifting sands of Spanish aristocracy. Andrieu’s choice to document this site reflects the era’s fascination with monuments of authority and cultural identity. The imposing structure and barren trees evoke a sense of melancholy, indicative of the decline of Spanish power in the late 19th century. The stereograph served not only as a souvenir but also as a tool for shaping perceptions of places, reinforcing colonial narratives and class structures. While photography promised to capture reality, it often presented a curated view, emphasizing certain historical and cultural narratives over others. This image, therefore, is both a historical document and a crafted representation of a society in transition.