Travel Photography 1880-1930
Exhibition Stereoscopy: A Three-Dimensional Revolution
This exhibition immerses visitors in the golden age of travel photography through stereo plates and stereoscopes, offering a unique 3D experience. It showcases the technological achievement and highlights the work of amateur and exploratory photographers, both men and women, who documented landscapes, cultures, and historical moments around the world.
Collection Olivier Guyaux, Alain Roch, Laure Winants
VR video Petermfriess, 3D Anaglyph Wout De Ridder
Inventory: Carole Moncoquet, Delphine d'Elia
Amateur stereo photographers played a crucial role in popularizing and spreading three-dimensional photography. The increasing accessibility and affordability of the technology allowed many enthusiasts to experiment with stereo photography and share their creations with family and friends, enabling a wider audience to explore distant places from the comfort of their homes.
Stereoscopy, a technique that creates the illusion of depth from two-dimensional images, is based on the principle of binocular vision studied by Leonardo da Vinci. In 1838, Sir Charles Wheatstone invented the stereoscope, which used two images taken from slightly different angles (mimicking the view from each eye). When viewed together, the brain merges them into a single 3D image, creating a sense of depth.
The rise of photography in the 19th century provided the perfect medium for stereoscopy. Stereo plates captured two perspectives of a scene, simulating human vision. By 1850, this technique had become a popular phenomenon. The ability to see photographs in three dimensions fascinated audiences and fueled a thriving market for stereo images. Explorers and photographers carried stereoscopic cameras on their journeys worldwide, allowing people to discover distant lands and cultures in an immersive and realistic way. Stereo images of monuments, natural wonders, and indigenous peoples were particularly popular.
Unlike professional photographs, which focused on grand expeditions or significant events, amateur photographers captured scenes of everyday life. These images provide invaluable historical records, offering a more intimate and personal view of the era. Today, they are used for educational and cultural purposes, preserving a snapshot of life at the turn of the century.
Although its popularity waned in the early 20th century, stereoscopy laid the groundwork for modern 3D imaging technologies. It has influenced various fields, including virtual reality, cinema, and medicine, leaving a lasting legacy of the innovation pioneered by Wheatstone and Brewster.
The View-Master: A Window to the World Introduced in 1939, the View-Master captivated audiences long before color television became standard in homes. This stereoscopic device allowed users to view colored 3D images using reels containing slides. At a time when visual media was still limited, the View-Master provided a unique immersive experience, transporting users to distant landscapes, animated tales, or educational realms, all in vibrant color and realistic depth.Before the advent of color television in the 1950s and 1960s, the View-Master was a fascinating window to the world, serving both educational and recreational purposes and becoming a cherished cultural icon for generations.
coll. Alain Roch
