Gezicht op de hoofdingang van het Alcazar in Sevilla 1862 - 1876

Jean Andrieu made this stereoscopic photograph of the Alcazar in Seville sometime in the mid-19th century, using a process that would have seemed impossibly modern at the time. Consider how the rise of photography both democratized and industrialized image-making. While painting and sculpture remained the province of skilled artists, photography allowed for the relatively easy mass production of images. This stereo card, printed on paper, would have been viewed through a special device, creating an illusion of depth. The photograph's very being speaks to the social and cultural shifts of the industrial age. The sharp lines of the architecture and the way light and shadow define its form are all captured with remarkable precision. Photography's ability to record details, however, also made the skilled labor that went into its creation somewhat invisible. By appreciating the materials and processes behind this photograph, we can understand how it blurred the lines between art, craft, and industry.