Brug in aanbouw (vermoedelijk) in het Verenigd Koninkrijk c. 1850 - 1880

E.F. West created this stereo card depicting a bridge under construction, likely in the United Kingdom. Stereo cards like this one provided middle-class audiences in the 19th century with a portable form of entertainment and education. This photograph captures the ambition of Victorian engineering and industrial progress, yet simultaneously, it reflects the social and economic structures underpinning such feats. The bridge, a symbol of connection and advancement, was made possible through capital investment and labor. Historians researching this image might delve into the archives of engineering firms, local historical societies, or census records to uncover the identities and stories of those who designed, financed, and built the bridge. By examining such sources, we can better understand the complex social conditions that shaped this photograph, as well as the grander narratives of technological advancement and social change.