Kerkelijke bruiloft 1856 - 1861

This stereograph of a church wedding was created by James Elliott, though the exact date remains unknown. A stereograph is essentially two photographs mounted side-by-side, meant to be viewed through a stereoscope, which merges the two images into a single three-dimensional view. The process of creating stereographs involved specialized cameras with two lenses set apart to mimic the distance between human eyes. When viewed through the stereoscope, this effect transforms the flat image into a scene with depth, allowing viewers to feel more immersed. In this case, the sense of witnessing a social gathering gives insight into the ritual of marriage, and the status conveyed through dress and architecture. Such images were popular in the 19th century as a form of entertainment, and also a means of circulating imagery, at a time when photography was a relatively new medium. Ultimately, understanding stereographs requires us to consider not just the image itself, but the technologies of production, distribution, and consumption that shaped their creation and reception.