Boslandschap met een man in Engeland c. 1854 - 1880

This stereograph of an English woodland with a man in it was made by the London Stereoscopic Company. Produced using photography, and printed on card, this is a double image intended to create a three-dimensional effect when viewed through a special device. The materiality of this photograph is interesting, because it’s a mass-produced object, and the handcraft has been removed. The company specialized in creating and distributing stereoscopic images, essentially democratizing landscape viewing for a Victorian public. By the late 19th century, photography had transformed the experience and perception of landscape through mechanical means. Consider the labor involved in photography at this time, from setting up the shot and developing the image, to the printing, mounting, and distribution processes. It involved a complex system that reflects industrialization. The image captures an ostensibly untouched scene of nature, yet the reality of its production is deeply embedded in labor, politics, and consumption. This reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images have complex stories to tell.