Louvre in Parijs 1863 - 1875

This is a stereograph of the Louvre in Paris, made by Charles Dauvois using a photographic process. It’s a double image mounted on card stock, designed to give a sense of three-dimensionality when viewed through a special device. The stereograph was a wildly popular format in the 19th century. It democratized image-making, bringing views of the world to middle-class audiences. But it was also deeply connected to industrial modes of production. Chemical processes rendered in these images required factories and distribution networks, and of course, the images they produced often celebrated the modern world. This view of the Louvre makes it appear as a majestic achievement. But it also evokes the many hands – from stonecutters to those involved in the photographic trade – that made the building, and this image of it, possible. The image asks us to consider the many people involved in the production process and the way that these processes have imbued the artwork with social or cultural significance.