Gezicht op het interieur van de wetgevende vergadering in Pretoria, Zuid-Afrika 1901

This stereoscopic image captures the interior of the legislative assembly in Pretoria, South Africa. It’s made through photography, a process of alchemical transformation involving light, chemistry, and mechanical apparatus. Photography, though seemingly objective, always reflects the choices and perspectives of the photographer, revealing as much about the observer as the observed. In this image, the photographer emphasizes the order and grandeur of the assembly hall, perhaps to convey a sense of authority and stability. The furniture, arranged in neat rows, suggests a space designed for rational deliberation and decision-making. The architecture, with its classical columns and portraits of leaders, evokes a sense of history and tradition. Consider the social context of this image, made in a time of immense social inequality in South Africa. By focusing on the architecture and order of the assembly, the image obscures the social tensions and struggles of the time. Paying attention to materials, making, and context allows us to question the traditional divide between fine art and social commentary, inviting a deeper understanding of the work.