Without Stereoscopic Effect 1 1875 - 1899

Here we have "Without Stereoscopic Effect 1," an undated print on cardstock by an anonymous artist. During the 19th century, stereoscopic images became incredibly popular. These images were designed to be viewed with a special device, creating an illusion of depth. But this work thwarts such expectations. By explicitly presenting the images "without stereoscopic effect," the artist asks us to consider the politics of perception. What does it mean to see, or not see, in a particular way? I wonder, too, about the anonymity of the artist. Perhaps this was a deliberate choice, a commentary on the mass production and consumption of images during this period. Or maybe it speaks to the erasure of individual voices within larger systems of power. As you look at these two geometric shapes, consider what is gained, and what is lost, when we embrace or reject established modes of seeing.