Gezicht op een waterval before 1878

This stereograph of a waterfall was produced by the Bierstadt Brothers, using photographic techniques common in the late 19th century. Stereographs like these were created by taking two photographs simultaneously, mimicking the way our eyes see, to produce a three-dimensional effect when viewed through a special device. The process involved not only the technical skill of photography but also the commercial aspect of mass-producing images for public consumption. These kinds of images were part of a burgeoning tourist industry, feeding the Victorian public's appetite for scenic views and exotic locales. In this context, the waterfalls become a commodity, an experience that could be bought and owned in miniature. We can see how the value of the image is tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Appreciating these photographs involves understanding the historical context of their creation and consumption, challenging our assumptions about the divide between art, craft, and industry.