Gezicht op het Escorial nabij San Lorenzo de El Escorial 1856 - 1863

Juan Laurent created this albumen print of El Escorial in Spain sometime in the mid-19th century. It presents us with a view of the monastery from a distance. The image creates meaning through the visual codes it employs, such as the imposing architectural grandeur of El Escorial, reflecting the power and authority of both the Spanish monarchy and the Catholic Church. Constructed in the late 16th century under King Philip II, El Escorial served as a royal residence, monastery, and burial site. Its architecture and layout mirrored the centralizing ambitions of the Spanish state during the Counter-Reformation. Laurent's photograph presents this imposing structure as a symbol of Spanish cultural identity and historical continuity. Careful historical research, including the study of architectural plans, royal correspondence, and religious documents, can give us a more complete understanding of this photograph. It emphasizes how art is contingent on its social and institutional context.