Webber Canon, U.P.R.R. 1863 - 1903

This stereoscopic photograph of the Webber Canon of the Union Pacific Railroad was created by Charles Bierstadt, using albumen silver print. The image is on a card, a format which really speaks to mass-production, with the same image appearing twice, side-by-side. When seen through a special viewer, a sense of three-dimensionality appears, and it is easy to see why these stereographs were so popular. Bierstadt's work, with its sharp focus and attention to detail, invites us to consider the social and cultural significance inherent in the image. It is not just a photograph, but a carefully crafted artifact. The photograph is imbued with cultural significance, capturing the spirit of industrialization and westward expansion in America. Think of the laborers who built the track! And the commodities that will eventually pass along it. By focusing on the materials, making, and context, we can move beyond traditional art historical categories. The stereograph challenges distinctions between fine art and craft, and appreciate the artistry and social commentary embedded within this mass-produced object.