Slangengang in het Berliner Aquarium, gezien vanuit de geologische grot 1869 - 1890

This stereoscopic image, titled 'Slangengang in het Berliner Aquarium, gezien vanuit de geologische grot', was created by S.P. Christmann using photographic techniques. The photographic print is a mass-produced medium, and this one would have been made using a twin-lens camera to create two images simultaneously. What makes this particular photograph interesting is the contrast between the cutting-edge technology used to produce it and the constructed ruin it depicts. The careful arrangement of stone, metal, and glass evokes a geological process and the marvels of nature within an architectural construct. The image's tonal range, from the dark shadows to bright highlights, contributes to the theatrical and dramatic atmosphere. The photographic process itself, involving the precise timing of exposures and chemical development, echoes the controlled environment of the aquarium. This photograph asks us to consider how we mediate nature through technology, and how we use it for both entertainment and education. The mass production of images like this one helped to shape public perception, turning a trip to the aquarium into an affordable form of armchair travel.