Gezicht op de Singel, met rechts de Sint-Catharinakerk, Amsterdam 1859 - 1870

Pieter Oosterhuis captured this stereoscopic photograph of the Singel canal in Amsterdam using the wet collodion process. This technique, popular in the mid-19th century, involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals just before exposure in the camera. Notice the incredible detail rendered through this method, from the brickwork of the Sint-Catharinakerk to the reflections in the water. The stereoscopic format, creating a 3D effect when viewed through a special device, was not just a novelty. It reflected a broader interest in scientific accuracy and realism during this period. The labor-intensive nature of wet collodion photography meant that each print was a unique object. This contrasted with the increasing mechanization of other industries. Oosterhuis was not only documenting Amsterdam; he was also participating in a visual culture shaped by technological change and new modes of production.