Een man en twee vrouwen in een open koets 1850 - 1864

This is a stereoscopic photograph titled "A Man and Two Women in an Open Carriage" by Alfred Silvester. The double image invites a three-dimensional experience, pulling us into the scene. The forms within the image are carefully arranged. The curvature of the trees behind contrasts with the angular lines of the carriage. The darker hues of the carriage and passengers create a solid mass that grounds the image, while the light blue of the women's skirts adds a touch of levity. The stereoscopic technique, while intended to mimic natural vision, complicates our perception of reality. It offers a constructed view, not an objective one. The doubled image creates a subtle tension between the real and the represented, a tension that underscores the photograph's nature as a designed artifact. Consider how the formal elements in the image, such as the stark contrasts in value and the repetition of forms, create a visual rhythm. This rhythm serves to underscore the constructed nature of the scene.