Gezicht op Margate Beach c. 1850 - 1880

Valentine Blanchard made this stereoscopic view of Margate Beach, using photography, a relatively new medium for the time. Photography democratized image-making. No longer did one need the skilled hand of a painter or sculptor to capture a scene. Photography relied on the chemical properties of silver halides, and with the right equipment and know-how, anyone could produce an image. This shift had profound implications for labor and class, as it opened up new avenues for creative expression and economic opportunity beyond the traditional art world. Blanchard's photograph captures a seemingly mundane scene of figures on a beach, yet it also speaks to broader social and cultural shifts of the time. The rise of photography coincided with the growth of industrial capitalism and mass production, leading to new forms of labor and consumption. By focusing on the materials, making, and context of this photograph, we can better understand its full meaning and challenge traditional distinctions between art and craft.