Gang met harnassen in het Grootmeesterspaleis in Valletta, Malta 1855 - 1875

Here's a stereoscopic image, showing a corridor with armored figures in the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta, Malta. It's a photographic print, and the duplicate images allow you to perceive it in three dimensions when viewed through a special lens. The photographic process itself is key to understanding this image. Photography emerged in the 19th century, and it was instantly bound up with industrial production. The making of photographs required the industrial manufacture of cameras, lenses, and chemical developers, which influenced photographic aesthetics. In this work, the new medium of photography captured the Palace interior with almost scientific precision. The artist sought to document the Palace, and also to emphasize its imposing nature. Look at the long corridor, which reinforces the Palace's imposing nature, and the social hierarchies it represented. The stereoscopic effect only heightens the illusion, drawing the viewer into the scene. Ultimately, this photograph asks us to consider the role of technology in shaping our perception of space, power, and history. It challenges traditional notions of art by embracing industrial production, while preserving a monument of elite culture.