[10 Stereographic Views in the Arctic from the Hayes Expedition] 1861

This stereographic view, created by Thomas C. Roche, captures a scene from the Hayes Expedition, likely in the 1860s. It’s made through photography, a process that was then relatively new, involving the careful manipulation of light and chemicals on paper. What is particularly striking about this image is the way it intertwines exploration with the burgeoning culture of photography. The image, presented in stereoscopic format, gives the viewer a sense of depth, placing them right there in the Arctic. The ship, caught in the ice, appears almost stranded. This vista of a ship locked in ice wasn't just documentation; it was also a commodity, made reproducible and easily disseminated. The making of such images involved a whole chain of labor, from the photographer risking life and limb in the Arctic, to the printing and distribution networks back home. This image challenges our typical view of fine art, because it was conceived as something to be circulated and consumed. The very act of making and selling these images fed into a growing public interest in distant lands, and a rising sense of American ambition and industrial prowess.