Interieur van het Palacio Real te Madrid 1862 - 1876

This stereoscopic image, captured by Jean Andrieu, invites us into the Palacio Real in Madrid. As a stereograph, it was made through photography, a relatively new technology at the time, designed for mass consumption. Look at the image. The interior, with its chandelier, paintings, and ornate furnishings, speaks volumes about the culture of luxury and the labor required to maintain it. The crystal chandelier, for instance, is made through glassblowing and skilled craftsmanship. The brocaded wallpaper, made using the Jacquard loom. Even the photographic process itself relied on both skilled labor, and mass production. In its own way, then, this stereograph documents the convergence of craft, design, and industrial production in the 19th century. It challenges us to consider the social context in which it was made, and how this influenced its appearance.