Willey House 1855 - 1875

The Kilburn Brothers created this stereoscopic view of the Willey House, a small rectangular photographic card with two nearly identical sepia images, likely sometime in the late 19th century. The composition is dominated by the strong horizontal lines of the house's wooden siding. The house itself, a simple, vernacular structure, sits squarely in the center of the frame. The stereoscopic format is crucial to the work’s meaning. Presenting two slightly different perspectives invites the viewer to merge these images in their mind, constructing a three-dimensional illusion. This reflects a broader 19th-century fascination with realism and attempts to capture and reproduce the world 'as it is'. Yet, this pursuit of realism is always mediated, always a construction. Consider how the seemingly straightforward depiction of the house and the surrounding landscape complicates notions of objectivity and representation. The image, while appearing to document a specific place, also functions as a sign, pointing to cultural values around home, landscape, and the act of seeing itself. The stereoscope becomes a tool not just for observation, but also for participating in a complex visual and cultural discourse.