Gezicht op Pest, gezien vanuit Boeda, Boedapest 1868

Charles Gaudin made this stereoscopic photograph, titled "View of Pest, seen from Buda, Budapest," using an early form of photography that creates a 3D effect when viewed through a stereoscope. During the 19th century, Budapest was undergoing a period of rapid urbanization and industrialization, transforming its cityscape and social fabric. Gaudin's photograph captures this moment in time from a privileged vantage point. Consider the perspective from Buda, overlooking Pest. This positioning reflects the historical divisions and power dynamics between the two cities, with Buda often representing the more established, aristocratic side, and Pest, the burgeoning commercial center. Who had access to these views, and whose stories were being told? In offering us this glimpse, the photograph also prompts us to reflect on the uneven development and the cultural identities shaped by this urban transformation.