Gezicht op het Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh c. 1860 - 1870

This is a stereoscopic view of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, captured by Lennie. The photographic process itself is key to understanding its significance. Stereoscopy involves creating a three-dimensional effect from two-dimensional images. This card would have been viewed through a special device, merging the two images to create an illusion of depth. Photography, even in its early days, wasn't just about capturing a scene, but about manipulating perception through technology. The rise of photography coincided with the Industrial Revolution, and like many forms of industrial production, photographic prints like these were often made in multiples, to be distributed for enjoyment and education. Consider the social context: who was consuming these images? What did it mean to bring a distant place "home" through this new medium? By looking at the materials and techniques, we can explore the cultural and economic forces at play in the making and consumption of such objects. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images carry rich layers of meaning.