Gezicht op Sorrento c. 1860 - 1880

This is a stereo card photograph of Sorrento, made by Roberto Rive in the latter half of the 19th century. It consists of two nearly identical albumen prints mounted side by side on card stock. The albumen process, popular at the time, involved coating paper with egg white to create a glossy surface that beautifully captured fine details. The twin images of the landscape, seen in the warm sepia tones characteristic of the process, would have been viewed through a stereoscope to create an immersive 3D experience for the viewer. Consider how this photographic method democratized image-making, making it accessible to a broader public, transforming photography from a scientific tool to a form of popular entertainment and early tourism. The mass production of stereo cards allowed people to travel the world from their homes, but it also involved a massive amount of labor to create, framing the photograph within complex systems of production and consumption. Looking closely at the materiality and context of the photograph helps us appreciate its place at the intersection of art, commerce, and social history.