Looppad langs de Gorges du Trient c. 1860 - 1880

This stereoscopic image shows the Gorges du Trient, and was made by Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy in the late 19th century, using photography. The stereoscope was a popular form of entertainment at the time; the double image gives a three-dimensional effect when viewed through a special device. Photography was still a relatively new medium at this time, and the process of making a photograph was much more involved than it is today. It demanded a good deal of work to produce this seemingly simple image, from preparing the photographic plates to the final printing. What might appear as a documentary photograph is also tied to tourism and leisure. The image shows a constructed walkway through a natural wonder. It is important to remember the amount of work required to build this walkway, and how it made the landscape accessible to a wider audience. This highlights the relationship between labor, leisure, and the consumption of landscape as a commodity.