Gezicht op Lyon c. 1855 - 1865

This stereoscopic card, "Gezicht op Lyon," offers a glimpse of Lyon through the lens of the Fourvières photographers. Stereoscopic cards like this one were a popular form of entertainment, allowing viewers to experience a pseudo-3D image. This image invites a dialogue between the observer and the urban landscape, reflecting the aspirations and socio-economic structures of the time. As the viewer’s eye moves over the urban landscape, the visible architecture reveals stories of power, religion, and commerce, deeply influencing social and political identities. Stereoscopic images democratized access to distant places, but what narratives did they prioritize and whose perspectives were omitted? How might the gaze inherent in this medium shape our understanding of Lyon's historical identity and its ongoing transformation?