Trappenhuis van het kasteel van Saint-Cloud before 1870

Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy captured this stereoscopic image of the staircase in the Château de Saint-Cloud with photography, likely in the mid-19th century. The photographic process itself is central to understanding the image. The technology demanded a collaboration between optics, chemistry, and skilled labor. From the preparation of the light-sensitive emulsion to the careful choreography of exposure and development, each step required technical expertise. The resulting image, a seemingly objective record, is in fact deeply mediated by the artist's hand and eye. Consider also the social context: photography in this era was intertwined with notions of documentation and progress. Images like this one offered a glimpse into the opulent world of the French elite, meticulously constructed and maintained through the labor of countless individuals. By examining the material and processes behind this image, we gain insight into the intersection of technology, artistry, and social class in 19th-century France, questioning the traditional separation between fine art and the technologies of its time.