Gezicht op de Torre de la Calahorra en een brug in Córdoba 1862 - 1876

This stereograph, made by Jean Andrieu, captures the Torre de la Calahorra and a bridge in Córdoba. The photographic process itself invites us to consider the relationship between material and representation. Photography, after all, is a chemical process, relying on the interaction of light and photosensitive materials to fix an image. Look closely and you'll notice the sepia tones, the result of the developing process. The stereograph format, with its paired images, was meant to create an illusion of depth. This speaks to the medium's aspiration to mimic reality, to capture a scene with scientific accuracy. But, of course, photography is never entirely objective. The photographer chooses the vantage point, the composition, and ultimately, what to include in the frame. In this image, Andrieu has carefully composed the Torre de la Calahorra and the bridge, highlighting their architectural details. He directs our gaze, shaping our understanding of this place through the lens of his camera.