Gezicht op een rotsformatie before 1878

The Bierstadt Brothers created this stereoscopic card of a rock formation, likely in the late 19th century, a period when photography was rapidly transforming visual culture. Stereoscopic images like this offered viewers an immersive, almost tangible experience of landscapes, turning natural wonders into accessible commodities. Note how the written text refers to Mount Kiarsarge's rock formation as "The Cathedral", appropriating religious architectural terms to describe natural features. This was part of a broader cultural trend in America, where the sublime beauty of nature was celebrated almost as a form of divine expression. To truly understand this image, we might research the history of tourism in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the role that photography played in shaping perceptions of the American landscape. By examining photographs, guidebooks, and other printed materials, we can gain insight into the social and cultural values that shaped the production and consumption of images like this one.