Eton College 1850 - 1919

This stereograph of Eton College was created by Stereoscopic Gems, likely in the late 19th century, during a time when British society was rigidly stratified by class and access to institutions like Eton was a privilege reserved for the elite. The photograph presents a meticulously composed view of the college's imposing architecture. This building was designed to cultivate future leaders of the British Empire, thereby perpetuating a cycle of power and exclusivity. Stereoscopic images like this one were popular forms of entertainment and education. But what narrative does this particular image construct? It presents an idealized vision of Britishness, class privilege, and institutional power, while simultaneously obscuring the labor, and social inequalities that sustained such institutions. Consider the emotional weight of this carefully constructed image, and how it invites viewers to participate in a particular understanding of British identity and social order.