Gezicht op Madrid 1862 - 1876

This stereoscopic image of Madrid was created by Jean Andrieu, likely in the mid-19th century. The photographic process itself is central to understanding this artwork. Photography in this era was not simply about capturing an image; it was a complex interplay of chemistry and optics. The process required coating a glass plate with light-sensitive emulsion, exposing it in a large, heavy camera, and then developing the image through a series of chemical baths. Making a stereoscopic image doubled the labor, requiring two nearly identical exposures to create the illusion of depth. Beyond its technical aspects, early photography had immense social implications. It democratized portraiture, allowing middle-class families to have their likenesses recorded. It also created new industries and forms of labor, from camera manufacturing to photographic studios. Stereoscopic images, in particular, offered a novel form of entertainment and education, allowing people to vicariously experience distant lands and cultures. Andrieu's view of Madrid is a testament to this, freezing a moment in time, mediated by an emerging technology that continues to shape how we see the world.