Gezicht op het Escorial 1862 - 1876

This stereoscopic image captures the Royal Palace of El Escorial, snapped by Jean Andrieu sometime in the mid-19th century. During this time, photography emerged as a powerful tool, mirroring both imperial ambition and colonial documentation. Stereoscopic images like this one were popular, promising a vivid, three-dimensional experience of far-off places. The image is not just a neutral depiction of architecture. Consider the act of framing El Escorial through a colonial gaze. What narratives are being constructed, and whose perspectives are centered? The act of viewing itself becomes implicated in the dynamics of power. How might our understanding of Spanish history be affected by these images that aestheticize power? Look closely at how the crisp architectural detail contrasts with the rubble and untamed landscape. This contrast might echo the tensions of the time. Feel the weight of history, the imperial reach, and the ways in which photography both captured and shaped our understanding of it.