Gezicht op de Jardin des Tuileries, Parijs 1860 - 1866

This is a stereoscopic image of the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris, made using photographic processes that were cutting-edge at the time. The photograph itself, created through a complex chemical process, captures a moment in time, but its mass reproducibility also hints at the rise of industrial capitalism. The albumen print, derived from egg whites, reveals a sepia-toned view of the garden. The image's details – the texture of the statue, the play of light on the architectural elements, and the perspective achieved through stereoscopy – draw attention to the social aspects of the site. These images democratized access to famous places, turning them into commodities available for consumption. The Jardin des Tuileries, once a symbol of royal power, became a stage for leisure and social interaction, captured here through the labor-intensive yet reproducible medium of photography. The act of making this image involves not just the photographer, but also the workers who produce the photographic materials.