Goochelaar op straat 1852 - 1863

This hand-colored stereo card depicts a street magician, conjuring spectacle for a diverse crowd. Without knowing the artist or precise date, we can still place the photograph within a broader social and cultural context. Stereo cards like this one were a popular form of entertainment in the mid-to-late 19th century, offering a glimpse into far-off lands, historical events, and, as here, everyday life. The figures in the photograph, from the magician with his props to the onlookers in their various states of dress, offer a staged view of social classes. The backdrop, with its sign reading "Exhibition," suggests a deliberate framing of the scene, turning the street into a temporary stage. Understanding this image requires considering the rise of photography as a tool for documenting and shaping social realities. Scholars of visual culture have explored how such images both reflected and reinforced existing social hierarchies. By examining photographic archives, we can uncover the complex interplay between art, entertainment, and the construction of social identity in the 19th century.