Gezicht op de Pont d'Orthez 1862 - 1876

Editor: This is Jean Andrieu’s "Gezicht op de Pont d'Orthez," created sometime between 1862 and 1876. It appears to be a photograph, perhaps a print, showcasing a bridge over a river. It has a calming, almost timeless quality to it. What can you tell me about it? Curator: This steroscopic image is quite revealing in its focus on the built environment, but the way it was made holds just as much information, maybe even more. Consider the labour and resources required to produce photographic prints in this era. This was still a relatively novel technology. Editor: So you are focusing on its making process, then? Curator: Precisely. This bridge connects two points, it seems sturdy and strong. The water and the rock formations contribute to a sense of the raw power of nature and suggest a sort of timeless relationship with human creations. This interplay, combined with the material qualities of the print itself, allows for some reflection on the values and social context of that time, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Yes, I see what you mean! The choice to capture *this* bridge, *this* river, reflects deliberate aesthetic and perhaps even political choices influenced by the available resources at the time. Curator: Absolutely. Now, think about the accessibility of this image. Who would have been able to afford and consume such a print in the 1860s or 70s? And how would that affect our understanding of the depicted landscape? Editor: It puts a completely different spin on simply looking at a pretty picture! Thanks! Curator: Indeed, understanding the materiality and production adds so much.