Fontaine de la Vierge aan de voet van de Sint-Pauluskerk in Luik 1866 - 1870

This stereograph, "Fontaine de la Vierge aan de voet van de Sint-Pauluskerk in Luik," was created by Jules Hippolyte Quéval sometime in the mid-19th century. Stereographs like this one were immensely popular, offering viewers a sense of depth and immersion, a photographic window onto another world. Quéval's image captures a public monument, a fountain topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, situated in a bustling urban square. In 19th-century Europe, such monuments were not merely decorative; they were potent symbols of civic identity, religious belief, and social order. The presence of the Virgin Mary speaks to the cultural and religious values that shaped the identity of the people who lived there. Stereographs were more than just pictures; they were tools for shaping perceptions and reinforcing cultural norms. They invited viewers to partake in a shared vision of the world, one that was deeply entwined with notions of identity, faith, and community.