Roeiboten op het water en publiek langs de kade, Parijs 1864 - 1879

This stereoscopic photograph captures a scene of rowboats on a river in Paris, observed by a crowd of spectators. The anonymous photographer probably captured it in the late 19th century. Stereoscopic images like this were popular forms of entertainment. They allowed viewers to experience a sense of depth and immersion from the comfort of their own homes. The commercialization of photography in this period meant that visual media was accessible to an expanding middle class with new leisure time. The image presents a view of Parisian life, focusing on a leisurely activity that draws a crowd. This speaks to the development of a modern culture of spectatorship. If we were to delve deeper, we might look into periodicals of the time to understand the place of leisure in the social life of Paris. Catalogues of photographic equipment would also tell us more about the technologies that made this image possible. Only then can we understand this image as a cultural artifact.