Regatta op de Seine met toeschouwers op de kade 1850 - 1880

This stereo photograph, by Jules Marinier, captures a regatta on the Seine with a crowd of spectators. The photographic process itself involved a complex interplay of materials, from the glass plate negative to the chemical solutions used for development, each contributing to the final image. The photograph offers a fascinating glimpse into leisure and spectacle in 19th-century Paris. Photography's ability to freeze a moment in time allowed for a democratization of representation. This work also reflects the social dynamics of the era, with the crowd and regatta hinting at both shared leisure and social stratification. By focusing on the materiality of this photograph and its capacity to capture a specific moment in time, we recognize the medium’s profound impact on our understanding of history and visual culture. It also invites us to look more closely at the social context that shaped its creation and reception, emphasizing the importance of the social, in addition to the aesthetic.