Home! Thy Joys are passing Lovely 1855 - 1875

The Kilburn Brothers made this stereograph, "Home! Thy Joys are passing Lovely", sometime in the late 19th century using albumen print. Stereographs like this one were a popular form of entertainment and domestic consumption at the time, giving middle-class families an affordable window onto the wider world. This one offers an intimate glimpse into domesticity. The albumen process, invented in 1850, used egg whites to bind the photographic chemicals to the paper. The image is split and mounted on a card, creating a 3D effect when viewed through a stereoscope. This enhanced the illusion of depth, drawing viewers into the scene and fostering a sense of connection with the subjects. The mass production of these cards speaks to the rise of consumer culture and the commodification of leisure activities during the Industrial Revolution. The Kilburn Brothers operated a large-scale business, employing numerous workers to produce and distribute their stereographs. Ultimately, this object reminds us to consider the intersection of art, technology, and commerce in shaping our understanding of the world around us.