Turtle Rock 1875 - 1899

This stereograph, Turtle Rock, was made by H.D. Udall in Garrettsville, Ohio. The photographic print on card stock is a relatively new process dating back to the mid-19th century. With it, photographs could be mass-produced and sold as a commodity, and it’s interesting to consider this in relation to the subject matter itself. Here we have not a human-made object, but a natural formation. Udall uses the reproducible medium of photography to commodify the landscape. The stereograph's function was to provide entertainment to the public, allowing them to enjoy a three-dimensional image, a simulation of the natural world from the comfort of their own homes. The stereograph catered to an increasing demand for leisure activities and accessible means of escape, which in itself reflects the wider social and economic changes of industrializing America. It’s a reminder that our relationship with the natural world has long been shaped by the marketplace.