Gezicht op de Singel en de Oude Leliestraat in Amsterdam 1860 - 1885

Pieter Oosterhuis created this stereo card of the Singel and Oude Leliestraat in Amsterdam using photography, a relatively new medium at the time. The photographic process itself is key to understanding the image. Unlike painting, which requires the manual application of pigment, photography depends on a chemical reaction. Light-sensitive materials, carefully prepared, capture a fleeting moment. Here, the architecture of Amsterdam is rendered in precise detail, its texture and form revealed by the interplay of light and shadow. This stereo card was made to be viewed through a stereoscope, a device that creates the illusion of three-dimensionality. The production of these cards was part of a booming industry, meeting a public appetite for visual experiences. The rise of photography changed how people consumed images, contributing to a wider culture of mass production and consumption. So, next time you look at an image, consider the materials, the processes, and the economic forces that brought it into being. You might be surprised at what you discover.