Stadsgezicht in Genève, Zwitserland 1855 - 1875

This stereoscopic photograph offers a glimpse of Geneva, Switzerland, captured by an anonymous photographer. Likely produced in the late 19th century, this image is a window into a time of rapid urban development and social change. Notice the fence in the foreground. Fences serve as both physical boundaries and social metaphors. Who is being kept out, and who is being protected? Stereoscopic images like this catered to a growing middle class with an appetite for travel and exploration. The architecture and open space speaks to a vision of modernity and progress. Consider how such images might have shaped perceptions of European cities. Stereoscopic images were often used for entertainment, but also for education and documentation. They bring us closer to understanding the complexities of identity, class, and the cultural gaze in the late 1800s.