Een familie uit Sápmi (Lapland) voor hun woning (gamme), Noorwegen 1873 - 1890

This photograph, "Een familie uit Sápmi (Lapland) voor hun woning (gamme), Noorwegen," was taken by Knud Knudsen. Photography in the 19th century was a meticulous craft, involving a deep understanding of chemistry and optics. But it also gave rise to new industries, as photographs were printed en masse. Here, the use of stereoscopic format, with its double image, provided an illusion of depth, making the scene all the more "real" to viewers far removed from this family's life. Consider how the medium itself plays into the image's social context. A family is pictured in front of their traditional dwelling, known as a gamme. As they pose for the camera, they are both subjects and collaborators in the creation of their own image. Labor is present in the careful arrangement of the scene, and in the photographer's craft. By considering the relationship between the making, the materials, and the social context of this photograph, we gain a greater understanding of its significance.