Derde bedrijf, achtste scène van Robert le Diable 1873 - 1874

Charles Dauvois created this photographic stereo card, depicting the eighth scene of the third act of Robert le Diable. Look closely, and you’ll notice a pair of images shot from slightly different angles. When viewed through a stereoscope, the scene springs to three-dimensional life. This was a popular form of entertainment in the 19th century, offering a convincing illusion of depth. The photographic process itself involved carefully coating glass plates with light-sensitive emulsion, exposing them to the scene, and then developing the image in a darkroom. The finished print is mounted on a card, making it easy to handle and view. What is particularly interesting about this artwork is how it captures a moment from a theatrical production, freezing the ephemeral performance in a tangible and repeatable form. This merging of art forms was made possible through industrialization, bringing affordable entertainment to middle-class audiences. The photograph offers an insight into the means of cultural production and consumption in the 19th century.