Untitled 1850 - 1877

Curator: Adolphe Braun created this stereo photograph sometime between 1850 and 1877. It’s simply called "Untitled," and it now resides here at the Art Institute of Chicago. What’s your first impression? Editor: Ah, it has that hazy, dreamlike quality you often find in early photography. The subdued light definitely adds to the peacefulness of the pastoral scene. Curator: Indeed. This image is structured as a stereograph, meaning two nearly identical images were taken simultaneously. When viewed through a special device, it creates a single 3D image. The practice was quite popular in the mid-19th century. Beyond entertainment, stereographs were a valuable way to document landscapes, like we see here. They offer a striking illusion of depth and volume. The symbolism in farmscapes are particularly important given the movement of people to larger cityscapes during the same time period. Editor: A collective longing for something many already lost. Makes you wonder if people in the city still longed for the farm after just one generation away. And all those cows! It’s more than a portrait of individual animals, but a testament to abundance and the idea of endless nourishment. You know, it makes you reflect on humanity's fundamental connection with the land and where food comes from, a theme that’s increasingly relevant now, wouldn’t you agree? Curator: I agree, but don't miss the subtle compositional symbolism—the balance of nature and the presence of livestock suggest themes of coexistence. Note how the artist places a pair of nursing calves in both halves of the work! I feel Braun, with his camera, almost certainly was creating an Arcadian ideal... perhaps subconsciously reflecting a need for connection within a rapidly industrializing world. Editor: Perhaps even unconsciously... Art’s funny that way; the mind meanders while the hand paints. Well, I know that whenever I think of the countryside, it evokes this sensation that is quiet and idyllic... I find myself wanting that space, always! It’s beautiful how Braun captured such raw peace so many years ago. It continues to provoke such gentle, deep thoughts and needs! Curator: Very true!