Stereographic Portraits

A stereograph includes two nearly identical photographs affixed side by side. When seen through a stereoscope, the two photographs appear to the eye as a single three-dimensional image. During the latter half of the nineteenth century, viewing stereographs was a commonplace pastime for middle-class households and was regarded as having both educational and entertainment value. Photographers created thousands of views of historic landmarks, natural wonders, and people from many backgrounds. As the vogue for stereographs coincided with the exploration and settlement of the West, the western region became a popular subject for stereograph manufacturers.

The seven images shown here demonstrate that noteworthy individuals often figured as characters within the narrative dramas enacted in these views. Before the introduction of the moving picture in the early twentieth century, stereographs were the dominant visual entertainment of the era.

 

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