Boog van Septimius Severus op het Forum Romanum 1861 - 1878

This stereo card, created by Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy, captures the Arch of Septimius Severus on the Roman Forum through the lens of 19th-century photography. The albumen print process, which was popular at the time, gives the photograph its sepia tones and smooth surface. This material process enabled mass production of images, catering to the rising interest in travel and documentation. The act of photography itself, with its reliance on light-sensitive materials, transforms the ancient stone into a commodity, a collectible souvenir of the Grand Tour. Through the photographer's labor and the chemical reactions on the paper, the grandeur of Roman architecture is reduced to a portable, reproducible image, reflecting the changing relationship between art, technology, and consumer culture in the industrial age. Looking at this stereo card, we can consider the social context of image-making. It opens a window into understanding the full meaning of the artwork, and challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.