Overtoom gezien in zuidwestelijke richting 1864

This stereo card, titled "Overtoom gezien in zuidwestelijke richting," was created by Gaston Braun using photography, a technology still relatively new at the time. The photographic process here is key to its effect. This stereo card would have been created using a camera with two lenses, mimicking the spacing of human eyes to create a three-dimensional image when viewed through a stereoscope. This technique would give the viewer a sense of depth and realism, as if they were actually present at the scene. The image itself depicts a canal scene with windmills in the background. These windmills were essential for the Dutch economy and integral to the rise of mercantilism and capitalism in the Netherlands. They were used to power sawmills, paper mills, and, most importantly, to drain the land for agriculture. The photograph becomes more than just a pretty picture; it is a document of industry and innovation, an industrial landscape. By understanding the materials, making, and the context of this work, we can see how photography challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.