Koeien in een weiland in Engeland c. 1854 - 1880

This stereoscopic image of cows in a field was produced by the London Stereoscopic Company, probably in the late 19th century. It offers a glimpse into rural England. These images were very popular in their time. The London Stereoscopic Company was a major player in mass media, producing views from all over the world. Their business model relied on making imagery accessible and affordable to a wide public, but what social role did these kinds of images play? On one hand, this image is a fairly conventional representation of rural life and it conveys a sense of harmony between people and nature. However, it also highlights how land was being used at that time and who benefited from it. We might think about the labor of those who worked the land, and the changing agricultural landscape of England during this period. Historical sources, such as census records and agricultural reports, can help us better understand the social and economic context of this image. They can offer insights into the complex relationships between land, labor, and capital in late 19th-century England.