Torre de Belém, Lissabon 1868 - 1890

This stereoscopic image of the Torre de Belém in Lisbon was made sometime in the 19th century, using photography, a relatively new technology at the time. Consider for a moment the labor involved in creating this image. The photographer, likely part of a commercial enterprise, would have hauled bulky equipment to the site, carefully arranged the composition, and then developed the glass plate negative. The print itself is a product of chemical processes, requiring knowledge and skill. And of course, the Torre de Belém itself: centuries of quarrying, stonecutting, and masonry, all done by hand. This photograph flattens all of that labor into a single, easily consumed image. It is part of a vast industry of representation that, while offering views of the world, often obscures the true cost of its making. Looking at this image, let's remember that everything we see – from the tower itself to the photograph in our hands – is the product of human work, skill, and ingenuity. This perspective challenges the traditional distinctions between art, craft, and industry, inviting us to see the value in all forms of making.