Niagarawatervallen gezien vanaf de Niagara Clifton Brug bij nacht 1869 - 1889

Curator: Let’s take a look at this stereo card, "Niagarawatervallen gezien vanaf de Niagara Clifton Brug bij nacht", taken sometime between 1869 and 1889 by George E. Curtis. Editor: Wow, it's eerie, isn't it? The monochromatic palette and misty atmosphere, I can almost feel the dampness radiating from the card. Curator: Indeed. Niagara Falls held a particular fascination in the 19th century, becoming both a symbol of natural wonder and a site of industrial ambition. Stereoscopic views like this allowed people to experience it from afar. Editor: The gelatin silver print is quite striking. I am wondering about the labor involved in capturing this scene at night, the preparation of the gelatin emulsion, the timing needed, then to finally come to market for mass consumption...all the hands and time dedicated to create this "natural" view is kind of obscuring the true face of the waterfalls... Curator: Interesting perspective. This image, however, also caters to a growing tourism industry, providing visual souvenirs. Its distribution speaks volumes about changing leisure activities and the democratizing force of photography at the time. Editor: But think about the chemicals needed for processing, too! They certainly played a role on Niagara river... The photographic process relies on this commodification of nature into something that can be owned and consumed. The materiality clashes the beauty and sublime feelings they try to instill in the viewers... Curator: A fair point. And it reminds us that our aesthetic appreciation is always intertwined with broader social and environmental contexts. It makes one question about art and manufactured image and its public role. Editor: Exactly! Seeing the Falls through this lens – no pun intended – forces us to acknowledge the industrial machine churning beneath its majestic surface. This card gives me shivers, metaphorically, too! Curator: Ultimately, it highlights how art, even something seemingly straightforward like a landscape photograph, is embedded in a complex network of cultural, economic, and technological forces. Editor: Well said! From a physical, natural wonder we jump into labor and social realities through the craftmanship on this small rectangular. Great, right?