Gezicht op het Castillo de San Servando te Toledo 1862 - 1876

This stereograph of the Castillo de San Servando in Toledo was made by Jean Andrieu sometime in the mid-19th century. The photographic process, like any other method of making, influenced its appearance. While photographs may seem to give us a transparent view onto the world, the materials and processes involved always affect the final image. Consider the chemical processes involved in fixing the image on the photographic plate, and the way that light and shadow play across the rough texture of the stone. But it's also important to consider the wider context: the rise of photography coincided with the Industrial Revolution, a time of great social and economic change. The medium’s ability to capture and disseminate images rapidly and widely, transformed visual culture. This photograph, with its paired images creating a sense of depth, reflects a broader shift towards mass production and consumption, where even a ruin like the Castillo could become a commodity, a tourist souvenir. So, next time you look at a photograph, remember that it's not just a window onto the world, but a product of its time, shaped by materials, labor, and the forces of capitalism.