Kade langs de Rijn te Oberwesel, met rechts de Ochsenturm c. 1850 - 1880

This stereoscopic photograph, showing the Kade langs de Rijn te Oberwesel, was created by Laurentius Herzog in the late 19th century. It's a double image, printed on card stock. The stereoscopic presentation was an ingenious format. Two nearly identical photographs mimic the slightly disparate perspective we have with our own two eyes. When viewed through a special viewer, the brain fuses the two images into one with remarkable depth. This was a popular form of entertainment. People were understandably amazed by the effect and keen to see the world this way. What is easy to forget is the amount of time, labour, and expertise that would have been required to create such an image. From the initial taking of the photographs, to the printing and mounting of the final product. As such, we should see in these images not just a scenic vista, but also a record of mass production in the service of wonder.