Pavillon de Marsan in Parijs 1855 - 1875

This stereoscopic photograph of the Pavillon de Marsan in Paris, was made anonymously using a camera. The image, captured on a treated glass plate, showcases the building and the street scene in incredible detail when viewed through a stereoscope. Photography, even in its early days, was deeply intertwined with capitalism and industrial production. The materials – glass plates, chemical developers, and printing paper – were all mass-produced. The camera itself was a product of precision engineering. This image is a testament to the standardization and mechanization of the era. What we see here is not just a building, but also the result of countless hours of labor, from the factory workers producing photographic supplies to the photographer capturing the scene. Ultimately, this photograph invites us to look beyond the surface and appreciate the social and economic forces that shaped its creation. It reminds us that even the simplest image carries a complex history of materials, making, and human effort.