Victorian Visual Culture

Stereoscopic photographs first gained notoriety during the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. Above is an example of one of the stereographs taken and circulated. Stereographs could be used to show events and foreign countries such as East and South East Asia. While “carte de visites” are visiting cards, stereographs were 3D photos one could observe through glasses to see the details of an image and step into the space for lack of a better term. This medium of photography allowed people to shift how far and close the photograph is to their face, giving them a new depth of field to look through as if they were in the space itself. This medium is still used today in the form of virtual reality classes. While it is more developed and one can move around in the display, unlike early stereographic images, it has the same principles of having a display and lenses to look through. 

Stereographs were invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1838 to create a three dimensional image through similar technology that is used in binoculars to create one image while isolating the eyes. Stereographs are slightly concave with, similar to binoculars, allow the image to appear 3D to the wearer. These mirrored photographs, using two identical photographs with the help of calotypes, are negatives that are images that are created though light exposure hitting paper treated with light sensitive chemicals and then developed in a dark room. I linked a blog, The Stereoscopy Blog, that goes into this process below if it is of interest to read.

The ability to create a 3D image is not something that is unfamiliar given 3D glasses, virtual reality, and cameras who take a 360 view of its surroundings to help place one in the location of interest. The stereoscopes allowed people to use the holders and stereographs to be reminded of their travels, either foreign or local but inaccessible to travel to. Or, fleeting events and exhibitions in the case of the Great Exhibition of 1851. The image attached is only an example of stereographs taken during the time the Crystal Palace was constructed. Most photographs I have seen have a vanishing point, allowing the viewer to have a depth of field. When one brings the image closer to the eye they can make an illusion of stepping into the photograph. Below is another example in a different section of the venue. 

Carte de visites and stereographs became mediums that allowed people to sit in the comfort of their own home and take a look or snapshot into another place. Those who could afford it were able to travel to these destinations and bring back their own souvenirs in the form of photographs while those who did not have the means to travel and take photographs relied on others. Studios were set up in locations of which became popular for tourists and later evolved into postcards for people to send to loved ones or to take back with them for their travels. It was also the exhibition that made stereographs become more popular after about twenty years since its invention. A memory of seeing the inventions and marvels of the human mind, through another innovative creation through combining the binocular effect with photographs. 

Like photography, stereographic images have evolved to become deeply ingrained in technology and continue to become more sophisticated as humans try to replicate reality through manmade means, either through computer generated images or digital means. 

This video goes into how stereographs work. https://youtu.be/8Oq_9lFvRf0?si=hiqFL8O9kCH4OjWW

Works cited

“Charles Wheatstone: The Father of 3D and Virtual Reality Technology.” Feature from King’s College London, 28 Oct. 2016, http://www.kcl.ac.uk/charles-wheatstone-the-father-of-3d-and-virtual-reality-technology-2. 

Rebecca. “Making a Stereoscopic (3-D) Calotype at Lacock Abbey, with Jo Gane and Robert Douglas.” The Stereoscopy Blog, 23 Oct. 2025, stereoscopy.blog/2025/10/19/making-a-stereoscopic-calotype/. 

Unknown. “View in the nave at the 1862 Great Exhibition.” Victoria and Albert Museum Collections, 18 March 2009, https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O201565/a-view-of-a-great-photograph-london-stereoscopic-company/

“Victorian Stereoscope: The Village at Black Creek.” Village at Black Creek, 4 Feb. 2025, blackcreek.ca/exhibits/out-of-the-box-exploring-artifacts/stereoscope/. 

Williams, Thomas Richard. “’The Two Colossal Statues’ at Crystal Palace.” Victoria and Albert Museum Collections. 30 June 2009, https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1076224/the-two-colossal-statues-at-photograph-t-r-williams/