Gezicht op Lausanne, in de verte de Kathedraal van Lausanne 1870 - 1890

Curator: This stereoscopic photograph, "View of Lausanne, in the Distance the Lausanne Cathedral," captures the city between 1870 and 1890. E. Savioz used the gelatin silver process. Editor: Immediately, it strikes me as a city on a slope, dominated by a cathedral. It's peaceful, almost idyllic, even though the viewpoint suggests some distance and observation. Curator: Absolutely, the photographic process itself speaks to a shift. Gelatin silver prints allowed for mass production. Savioz isn't just capturing a scene, he's participating in a new visual culture of consumption. It shows the democratizing power of images. Editor: And yet, the choice of subject! A cityscape crowned by a cathedral isn't just any view; it carries the weight of centuries of religious and social structure. The cathedral is a visual anchor, a symbol of enduring power amidst the rapidly changing urban landscape. Curator: True, but look closer at how Savioz frames it. The buildings cascading down the hill, connected by visible, almost utilitarian structures. He highlights the very infrastructure that enables life and movement in this society. His process focuses on capturing everyday reality and social life within it. Editor: I find the visual layering so intriguing. The foreground foliage almost obscures the architecture beneath, while the cathedral in the background pierces the skyline. This could imply both natural grounding, a physical sense of place and spiritual aspiration towards enlightenment or some holy purpose. The romantic lens softens that. Curator: Precisely! These stereoscopic images would have been a readily available product, meant to transport viewers to this place. This changes accessibility of seeing artwork beyond class and privilege, making such beauty available as a commodity and shaping viewers relationship with the place, Lausanne, depicted. Editor: In short, the enduring spiritual iconography against industrial progress produces for the consumer a potent symbol during a time of massive upheaval. Thank you. Curator: A collision of the earthly and spiritual, mass production and visual experience indeed! Thank you.