"Biddy Sees a Rat" 1898

Editor: This stereoscopic print, called "Biddy Sees a Rat" by Liberty Brand, presents such an interesting scene. It looks like it’s been hand-tinted, and the composition is quite unusual. What can you tell me about the materials and the production of this kind of image? Curator: Well, the stereoscope was a form of popular entertainment, a mass-produced artifact. The hand-tinting, the "Liberty Brand" name, and the "Educational Series" title all speak to a commodification of imagery. It begs the question: what labor went into its creation, and who consumed it? Editor: That’s fascinating! Thinking about it as a commodity really shifts my perspective. I hadn't considered the labor involved in making something like this. Curator: Exactly. It is also about the process and the layers of the marketplace. Reflect on what it meant to circulate these images widely.