Sculptuur in de vestibule van het Grand Trianon, voorstellende een bikkelspeelster c. 1860 - 1880

This is a stereoscopic card showing a sculpture of a girl playing knucklebones, made by Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy in the 19th century. These cards were a popular form of entertainment. They offered a sort of virtual tourism, allowing people to view distant places and artworks from the comfort of their homes. Here, the classical subject meets the modern medium. The sculpture of the girl evokes ancient Greek or Roman art, often idealized depictions of youth and leisure. Knucklebones, a game played with animal bones or stones, has ancient roots and was popular among women and children. But Lamy’s choice to capture this sculpture through photography introduced new dimensions. Photography democratized art, making it accessible to a broader audience beyond the elite circles. It also raises questions about representation and spectatorship. Who is invited to gaze upon this idealized image of girlhood, and what desires or fantasies does it serve? Does it offer a nostalgic vision of innocence, or does it reinforce societal expectations of women and childhood?