Koninklijke Bibliotheek in huis Huguetan aan het Lange Voorhout, Den Haag 1859 - 1865

Pieter Oosterhuis made this stereograph of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek using photographic methods. The stereograph was a popular form of entertainment in the 19th century, and this one is no exception. The stereograph is made up of two nearly identical photographs, mounted side-by-side. When viewed through a stereoscope, the two images merge to create a single, three-dimensional picture. The process of creating a stereograph involved careful attention to detail. Photographers like Oosterhuis had to precisely position the camera and lighting to capture the scene. They also needed to be skilled in the darkroom, where the images were developed and printed. The popularity of stereographs reflected a growing interest in photography as a means of documentation and artistic expression. By emphasizing the craft involved in creating photographs like this, we move away from traditional distinctions between art and commerce.