Untitled [statue of man comforting crying girl] 1869 - 1874

Jeremiah Gurney, a prominent New York photographer, made this stereo card of a statue sometime in the mid-19th century. Stereo cards like these were a popular form of entertainment, allowing viewers to experience a three-dimensional image through a special viewer. The subject here is sentimentality, a common theme in Victorian art. The sculpture depicts a man comforting a weeping woman, a scene designed to evoke strong emotional responses. This was a period defined by a rapidly industrializing society where sentimental art provided an escape into idealized emotions. Understanding this image means recognizing the power of photography to disseminate art and culture. Gurney’s studio, located on 5th Avenue, catered to a middle-class audience eager to consume both art and entertainment. By studying photography journals, exhibition reviews, and census records, we can better understand how images like these shaped social norms and cultural values in 19th-century America. Art like this becomes a window into understanding the feelings of a time.