Gezicht op de toegangspoort van de Salón de Embajadores in het Alcazar in Sevilla 1862 - 1876

This stereoscopic photograph, captured by Jean Andrieu, presents the entrance to the Salón de Embajadores in Seville's Alcázar, likely in the mid-19th century. The horseshoe arch, adorned with intricate geometric and vegetal motifs, immediately catches the eye. This architectural form is laden with historical significance, echoing the visual language of power and cultural exchange. The arch, a symbol deeply rooted in ancient Roman and Visigothic architecture, experienced a resurgence under Islamic rule in Spain. From the Great Mosque of Cordoba to this very salon, the horseshoe arch became a hallmark of a unique cultural synthesis. Note how the arch transcends its mere function, serving as a potent emblem of both cultural continuity and transformation. The arch motif reappears across time, a signifier that bends and adapts, proving itself to be a testament to the enduring human need to express, remember, and reimagine.