Voorgevel van het Congres van Afgevaardigden te Madrid 1862 - 1876

Jean Andrieu made this stereograph of the Congress of Deputies in Madrid using photography, a relatively new medium in the 19th century. The photographic process itself is a chemical one, highly industrialized by this point, but it also requires the craft of a skilled photographer, who must manipulate light and composition to create an appealing image. Photography at this time was also becoming a common form of documentation, and this photograph presents the building as solid and imposing, reflecting the power of the Spanish government. The duplication of the image through the stereograph format reinforces its status as an object of mass consumption, part of the burgeoning visual culture of the era. The consumption of images like this one was tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Considering the materials, making, and context allows us to appreciate the political and cultural work this photograph performs, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.