Gezicht op Istanboel en de Bosporus 1861 - 1870

This stereoscopic photograph shows Istanbul and the Bosphorus. Taken by Charles Gaudin, it presents a vision of Turkey intended for 19th-century European viewers. Stereoscopic images like this one were a popular form of entertainment and education. The image speaks to a broader context of Orientalism, where the "exotic" East was consumed by the West. What this photograph doesn't depict are the complex realities of life in Istanbul at the time, including the social hierarchies, economic disparities, and cultural negotiations that shaped the city. The photograph gives a sense of distance and detachment. What might it mean to engage with this image from a contemporary perspective, acknowledging the power dynamics inherent in its creation and consumption? How can we look beyond the romanticized facade to consider the human stories and experiences that lie beneath the surface? This photograph offers an emotional and aesthetic experience and serves as a historical document which opens questions about representation, power, and cultural exchange.