Gezicht op Boedapest met de Donau op de achtergrond 1868

This stereoscopic image of Budapest with the Danube in the background, was created by Charles Gaudin. The doubled image, when viewed through a stereoscope, creates a single three-dimensional view. Stereoscopic images were very popular in the 19th century, offering viewers the chance to experience far-off places and cultures from the comfort of their homes. But what stories are left untold in these seemingly objective views? Consider the context in which this photograph was taken. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a complex mosaic of ethnicities and cultures and Budapest was undergoing rapid modernization. The image appears to be an innocent cityscape. But it also subtly underscores the power dynamics of the era. Who had the means to commission and consume such images, and whose perspectives were prioritized? This photograph may invite us to reflect on the experience of looking and the politics inherent to the act of seeing.