Gezicht op het meer van Lugano en het standbeeld van Willem Tell 1855 - 1875

This stereoscopic photograph presents a view of Lake Lugano and the statue of William Tell, made with photographic techniques that gained popularity in the 19th century. The process involves a camera with two lenses, mimicking human vision to create a three-dimensional effect when viewed through a stereoscope. This process captures a sense of depth, highlighting the statue's presence in the landscape. Photography democratized image-making, offering a mechanically produced likeness to a broader audience, contrasting with the labor-intensive practices of painting or sculpture. Stereoscopic images like this one were mass-produced, sold as affordable keepsakes or educational tools, and fueled a burgeoning market for travel photography and visual tourism. The photographic process itself—from the preparation of the light-sensitive materials to the final print— involved skilled labor. This photograph reflects broader shifts in leisure, consumption, and the changing landscape of image production in the 19th century.