Zeilboot op het IJ 1892 - 1902

This is a stereograph, likely made in the late 19th century, by Sigmund Löw, showing a sailboat on the IJ river in Amsterdam. It's made using photography, a relatively new and exciting industrial process at the time. The stereograph was a popular form of entertainment, offering a 3D image when viewed through a special device. The process involved taking two photographs simultaneously from slightly different positions, mimicking the way our eyes see. When viewed together, the brain interprets the two images as a single, three-dimensional scene. This was a clever application of optical science, made accessible to a mass audience through industrial production. The photograph itself captures a moment of leisure. It’s important to remember that the production of images like these was tied to wider social and economic changes. The rise of photography coincided with the growth of the middle class, who had both the disposable income and leisure time to enjoy such novelties. Ultimately, this stereograph not only shows us a sailboat, but also the currents of technology and class that shaped its creation and consumption.