Entree van het Dolmabahçepaleis, Istanboel 1861 - 1870

This is a stereoscopic photograph of the Dolmabahçe Palace entrance in Istanbul, captured by Charles Gaudin. It's a double image on card stock, designed to give the viewer a three-dimensional impression through a special viewer. Photography itself was, and still is, a process of production. In this case, it involves specific chemistry applied to paper, a mechanical apparatus, and the trained eye of the photographer to choose the right framing and lighting conditions. Gaudin capitalizes on the popular trend of stereoscopic images to bring the exoticism of Ottoman architecture into European homes. Notice the inherent qualities of the photograph: the sepia tone, the way the light reflects off the stone, and the deep shadows which give form to the elaborate baroque carvings on the gate. The act of creating this photograph mirrors the way in which the Palace itself was made, combining elements of craft, design, and materiality, and also embedding social and cultural significance into the artwork. The photograph, like the Palace, embodies a complex network of labor, politics, and consumption. By considering these factors, we gain a fuller understanding of its meaning.