Fontein op het Isle of Wight, Engeland 1861

This stereograph, "Fountain on the Isle of Wight, England," captures a moment in time through the lens of Isaac Hollis. Stereographs like this one were immensely popular in the 19th century, offering viewers a virtual experience of faraway places. The Isle of Wight, a popular tourist destination for the British elite, becomes accessible to a wider audience through this new technology. We might consider, however, who had access to such technology and whose stories were being told. Stereographs often presented idealized and romanticized views, carefully curated to appeal to the tastes of the middle and upper classes. Consider how Hollis’s composition, with its emphasis on the picturesque and sublime, invites viewers to escape into a world of natural beauty. But let’s also think about what is left out of the frame: what labor went into creating this scene, and what perspectives are silenced in this image of leisure and tranquility? This photograph reminds us to look beyond the surface and question the stories we tell ourselves about history, place, and identity.