Peep-show, Vue d'Optique Representant les Environs du Marché aux Chevaux de Stetin en Allemagne
ca. 1750
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Edward R. Wharton
Accession Number
1901-30-23
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the lively world of 18th-century Europe with *Peep-show, Vue d'Optique Representant les Environs du Marché aux Chevaux de Stetin en Allemagne*, a captivating print from around 1750. This artwork depicts the bustling surroundings of the horse market in Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland), then a vibrant trading hub in Prussian Pomerania. As a *vue d'optique*—a specialized print designed for viewing through an optical peep-show device—the image features exaggerated perspective lines that converge dramatically, creating an immersive, three-dimensional illusion when peered at through curved l...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...