Maarschalkenzaal in het Tuilerieënpaleis, Parijs 1858

This stereoscopic image captures the Maarschalkenzaal in the Tuileries Palace, Paris, by Florent Grau. It’s made using photographic techniques which, by this time, had become relatively standardized, and a means of mass-producing images. But consider the scene itself – a palatial interior, with gleaming floors, crystal chandeliers, and classical statuary. All of this splendor was enabled by industrial capitalism, extracting raw materials from all over the world and channeling them into luxury goods. The skilled labor needed to produce this kind of opulence would have been considerable. The photograph creates an idealized impression, concealing the complex social relations that made such spaces possible. In viewing this image, we must remember not only the aesthetic accomplishment and technical skill that went into its making, but also the inequalities inherent in its subject.