Gezicht op de Wellington Arch te Londen c. 1850 - 1880

James Elliott made this stereoscopic photograph of the Wellington Arch in London sometime in the 19th century. These images were made by a camera with two lenses that simultaneously took two images, which when viewed through a stereoscope, gives the viewer a sense of three-dimensionality. Stereoscopic photography was a popular form of entertainment in the mid-19th century, as it allowed people to experience places they may never have had the opportunity to visit. It was the Victorian equivalent of virtual reality. The mass production of such photographs also depended on a newly industrialized society, with standardized materials, chemical processes and a culture of consumption. Beyond its aesthetic qualities, the photograph also offers insights into social issues. The Wellington Arch itself was a monument to British military success, which would have resonated with audiences in the colonial era. Elliott’s photograph, therefore, is more than just a depiction of a monument; it is a window into the social, economic, and technological landscape of the 19th century.