Theatrale voorstelling van drie mannen en een vrouw in een wijnkelder c. 1850 - 1880

This is a stereoscopic photograph of a theatrical scene staged in a Parisian wine cellar, made sometime in the mid-19th century by an unknown photographer. It presents a constructed view of working-class leisure. We see men drinking and relaxing, with a woman standing on a barrel, possibly singing or giving a speech. The setting, a wine cellar, and the leisure activities depicted indicate a specific social context, likely targeting middle-class consumers interested in romanticized views of Parisian working life. Stereoscopic photography itself was a technology that catered to a growing middle class, offering immersive experiences of distant places and social scenes. The staged nature of the scene reflects a broader trend in 19th-century photography, where constructed images were used to represent social realities, often reinforcing existing stereotypes or appealing to certain audiences. To fully understand the photograph, one might consult archives of popular imagery and sociological studies of Parisian working-class culture during this time. The meaning of this artwork is contingent on its social and technological context.