Eerste bedrijf, eerste scène van L'Africaine 1873 - 1874

Editor: Here we have what seems to be a photographic print entitled 'Eerste bedrijf, eerste scène van L'Africaine,' dating from 1873-1874. It looks like a stage set. All those people and such ornate surroundings create a regal, almost daunting, atmosphere. What jumps out at you when you see this piece? Curator: You know, it’s funny how photographs of theatrical sets can be doubly performative—a performance within a performance, if you will. And it also makes me think, doesn't it look so stilted, like a wax museum, where everyone has to keep completely still. What I find interesting is how photography, then still quite young, was being used to document, and almost, archive, these grandiose stage productions. Do you find it strange to see such a contemporary technology used to capture what were, in their own time, fleeting moments of artistic creation? Editor: Definitely! It’s like freezing a moment designed to be ephemeral. I also notice the repeated image... what are those called? Are those two photos for viewing in a stereoscope? Curator: Exactly! Stereoscopic images were hugely popular then – this was like early virtual reality. It gave the illusion of depth. This photograph is less about the opera itself and more about the *experience* of it. What sort of commentary, do you think, that makes about us and our relationship to art? Editor: So it's not just about the play; it's about how people *consume* the play. That reframes my entire understanding. Curator: Precisely. And isn’t that fascinating? Editor: Absolutely, thank you. This was enlightening!