Toegangsportaal van de Kathedraal van Sevilla 1872 - 1876

This is a stereoscopic image of the entrance to Seville Cathedral, made by Jean Andrieu sometime in the mid-19th century. The photograph itself, of course, is the key material here. Consider the labor that went into its production. Not only the photographer's skill, but the many processes of development and printing required, alongside the industrial production of photographic paper. Andrieu's work belongs to a wider history of creative practices that straddled the line between craft and fine arts. The photograph could be seen as a relatively democratic medium, offering the potential for mass production and consumption. At the same time, the subject matter speaks to entrenched power structures. The cathedral embodies centuries of cultural and religious authority, constructed through immense material and human resources. Thinking about the making and the materials of this image gives us insight into the complex relationship between labor, politics, and consumption in 19th century Europe, and challenges our assumptions about what constitutes art.