Navy Yard, Washington D.C. 1855 - 1875

The Kilburn Brothers made this stereograph of the Navy Yard in Washington D.C. sometime in the late 19th century, using a twin-lens camera to capture two slightly different perspectives, printed on a card to give a 3D effect when viewed through a stereoscope. Photography itself was a rapidly advancing technology then, enmeshed with industrial production and capitalist expansion. Making stereographs was a labour-intensive process that required skilled technicians to operate the cameras, develop the negatives, print the images, and assemble the final product. This particular image would have appealed to a wide audience eager to experience the iconic landmark. The guns, made with precision in iron foundries, embody the industrial might of the United States. The very act of photographing and distributing images like this fuelled a culture of consumption. The Kilburn Brothers’ stereograph invites us to consider how materials, making, and social context intertwine, challenging traditional boundaries between documentation, art, and craft.