Bit in the Trossachs c. mid 19th century

This stereoscopic card, made by G. W. Wilson, presents two nearly identical photographs of a scene in the Trossachs, a region in the Scottish Highlands. These were printed using the albumen process, which involves coating paper with egg whites and silver nitrate, resulting in a glossy surface ideal for capturing fine details. The making of these cards was itself a fascinating process, requiring careful darkroom work and printing techniques, but the social context is just as interesting. The Victorian era was a boom time for photography, as industrial capitalism allowed for mass production and distribution of these images. Stereoscopic views like this one offered a novel form of immersive entertainment for middle-class consumers, providing a sense of "being there" in the Scottish Highlands without having to travel. The very act of viewing, using a special stereoscope, collapses the two images into one, creating an illusion of depth. It's a reminder that the experience of art is never just about the image itself, but also the means of its production, distribution, and consumption.