Nederlands schip 1900 - 1922

Robert Julius Boers created this stereo card photograph, titled 'Nederlands schip,' sometime between 1880 and 1932. The photographic process has its own materiality, and is not a simple reproduction of the world around us. The gelatin silver developing-out paper used here has a smooth surface and neutral tone, essential for capturing fine details of the ship. But it’s also a reminder that photography, like any other medium, is mediated by human touch and chemical processes. Consider the labor involved: from the factory workers producing the photographic materials, to the photographer capturing the image, to the people who viewed these cards as entertainment. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, stereo cards like this were mass-produced, serving as a form of accessible visual culture. Paying attention to these aspects encourages us to appreciate the artistry involved, and to consider the broader social and economic contexts in which images are made and consumed.