Graslandschap met op de achtergrond bomen en top van de Alpen c. 1860 - 1880

This stereoscopic photograph, "Graslandschap met op de achtergrond bomen en top van de Alpen," was created by Achille Quinet. The stereoscope was a popular form of entertainment in the 19th century, and the production of these images was driven by a growing consumer culture. This particular example, likely an albumen print, was made through a laborious process of coating paper with egg whites, sensitizing it with silver nitrate, and then exposing it to light through a negative. The final print would then be mounted onto card stock for viewing. Looking at the image, note the level of detail that would have been difficult to capture through other artistic mediums. With these detailed stereoscopic photographs, the public was provided with a sense of the real, but also a form of instant tourism, allowing people to experience distant places and cultures from the comfort of their own homes. The stereoscope is a reminder of the power of photography as a tool for shaping our understanding of the world.