Gezicht op Sallanches, met op de achtergrond de Mont Blanc c. 1860 - 1880

This is a stereo card depicting Sallanches, with Mont Blanc in the background, made by Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy. Stereo cards like this one became incredibly popular in the late 19th century. They consist of two nearly identical photographic images, mounted side-by-side. When viewed through a stereoscope, the two images merge, creating a single, three-dimensional picture. This illusion of depth was a major attraction, offering viewers a virtual experience of distant places. The production of stereo cards was deeply entwined with the rise of mass tourism and the burgeoning middle class. These cards were relatively inexpensive to produce, relying on standardized photographic processes and mass printing techniques. They were a form of accessible luxury, allowing people to collect and consume images of faraway lands, fueling a desire for travel and exploration. The cards were widely distributed and traded. In their own way, objects like this democratized access to images, challenging traditional notions of art as unique and precious.