Untitled
c. 1860
Medium
stereoscopic albumen print
Dimensions
image/sheet: 7.94 × 14.61 cm (3 1/8 × 5 3/4 in.) mount: 8.89 × 17.78 cm (3 1/2 × 7 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mary and Dan Solomon
Accession Number
2024.93.3
Art Historical Context
This untitled stereoscopic albumen, created by an anonymous American photographer around 1860, exemplifies the innovative spirit of mid-19th-century photography Measuring just 7.94 × 14.61 cm on its sheet, this diminutive image was designed for viewing through a stereoscope—a handheld device that merges two nearly identical side-by-side exposures into a striking three-dimensional illusion. The albumen process, using egg whites to bind light-sensitive silver salts to paper, produced the rich tonal range and sharp detail that made these prints so popular, marking a pivotal advancement in accessi...
About the Artist
American 19th Century
The artist cataloged as "American, 19th Century" represents a collective of unidentified painters active in the United States during the nineteenth century, with 380 known artworks preserved in this virtual museum's collection. These works span a diverse array of genres typical of the era, including portraits, landscapes, still lifes, and genre scenes, reflecting the burgeoning artistic output of ...