Untitled 1873

This stereograph, made by John P. Soule in the 19th century, shows us a peculiar Victorian tradition. Soule photographed a display of ‘skeletonized’ leaves, a technique achieved by laboriously soaking and brushing away the soft tissue of leaves to leave only their delicate, lacy structure. This ghostly display has a definite charm, but it also hints at the era's fascination with death and the afterlife. The process of skeletonizing leaves, a pursuit that required time and patience, speaks to Victorian society’s values. It transforms something natural and ephemeral into a preserved object, echoing their efforts to hold onto beauty and memory in a rapidly changing world. The stereograph itself, a new technology, adds another layer to this, offering a ‘realist’ three-dimensional image that preserves the scene for posterity. So, next time you look at this image, consider the hands that carefully stripped away the flesh of these leaves, revealing the delicate beauty beneath. It’s a story of nature, labor, and the Victorian obsession with capturing fleeting moments.