Bal Dourlans, Parijs 1863 - 1875

"Bal Dourlans, Parijs" is a stereograph by Charles Dauvois. This photographic technique, popular in the 19th century, used two slightly different images of the same scene to create a 3-D effect when viewed through a stereoscope. Stereographs like this offered a window into different worlds, reflecting a burgeoning global curiosity. This image captures the Bal Dourlans, a popular dance hall in Paris. The dance hall provided a space for social mixing across different classes, although it wasn't free from the rigid social norms of the time. Note the orderly rows of chairs awaiting the evening's revelers. Who sat where would have been dictated by social standing and gender expectations. Dauvois’s photograph acts not only as an aesthetic object but also as a historical document. As you look at it, consider the silent stories it holds, of individual aspirations, social hierarchies, and shared human experiences, all caught within a brief moment in time.