Groep mensen rond een eettafel 1854 - 1859

This stereoscopic image presents a scene of bourgeois domesticity. Though we don't know who made it, or when exactly, we can still analyze the material qualities of the artwork itself. The stereoscope was a device that could produce a 3D image from two photographs printed on a card. It was a popular form of entertainment and a booming industry in the late 19th century. The process of creating this image was complex, involving photography, printing, and mounting. The choice of subject matter, a group of people gathered around a dining table, reflects the values and aspirations of the middle class at the time. The image shows a carefully staged scene, complete with elaborate costumes, fine furniture, and a well-appointed table. The image invites us to consider the relationship between art, technology, and social class, and to question the traditional hierarchies that have often separated fine art from popular culture.