“Step into a 19th-century Parisian World's Fair through these stereograph views. Each pair of images creates a 3D illusion, transporting you to the grand expositions of 1855 and 1867, revealing the marvels and crowds of the era.”
This extensive group of stereograph views offers a fascinating window into the Universal Expositions held in Paris during 1855 and/or 1867. Each card, an albumen silver print, presents two nearly identical images side-by-side. When viewed through a stereoscope, these flat photographs merge into a single, three-dimensional scene, creating an immersive experience for the viewer. We see the grand architectural marvels erected for these global showcases, from intricate pavilions to vast exhibition halls, along with glimpses of the crowds that flocked to witness the latest innovations and cultural displays. These images capture the spirit of an era captivated by progress and international exchange, allowing us to step back in time and experience the spectacle of these monumental events as they were originally presented over a century and a half ago. William H. Key, active during this period, helped document these significant moments.
- Artist
- William H. Key
- Date
- 1850
- Medium
- Albumen silver prints
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- Mounts approximately: 8.9 x 17.8 cm (3 1/2 x 7 in.)
- Collection
- Photographs
- Credit line
- Gift of Weston J. Naef, in memory of Kathleen W. Naef and Weston J. Naef Sr., 1982
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
![[Group of 266 Stereograph Views of the 1855 and/or 1867 Universal Expositions in Paris, France]](https://images.artwhisper.app/artworks/e8adc86e-83bb-42d8-b41d-d50a022b482d/f775c7e9-f7fb-467d-b822-15e581560708_sm.jpg)
Observe the subtle differences between the two images on each card.
Look for the elaborate temporary architecture of the exposition grounds.
Spot the bustling crowds of visitors, often tiny figures in the grand scenes.
Notice the details of early photographic technology in the print quality.
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William H. Key
1832–1922 · United StatesWilliam H. Key was an American engraver and medalist, whose work included creating intricate designs for coins and commemorative medals.
Further Works by Key
The Key
Art Institute of Chicago
Bugle in C
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
"The Bath," a dripping spring in Kanab Cañon. Temperature, 69° Fahr, No. 9 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"
1872 · Art Institute of Chicago
Ahem—Those jokes about absent minded professors
Art Institute of Chicago
Jitterbugs II
Art Institute of Chicago
Ship with Sails Furled and Arrow Pointing to the Right
Art Institute of Chicago
The Jazz Wall
Art Institute of Chicago
"Who knows what Eloise did wrong?"
Art Institute of Chicago
More works to explore
Beyond Key: works from the same years.
Same era · 1830s–1860s
The Cottage by the Roadside, Stormy Sky
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1855 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
The Backgammon Players
Philip Webb · 1861 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Mount Chocorua and Moat Mountain from North Conway
William Hart · 1850
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Portrait of a Woman, Called Héloïse Abélard
Gustave Courbet · 1850 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Woman Feeding Chickens
Jean-François Millet · 1850 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion
Eugène Delacroix · 1849 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Joséphine-Éléonore-Marie-Pauline de Galard de Brassac de Béarn (1825–1860), Princesse de Broglie
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1853 · Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Olive Trees
Vincent van Gogh · 1853 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth
J. M. W. Turner · 1842 · National Gallery
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Young Spartan Girls Challenging Boys
Edgar Degas · 1860 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
An Arab Warrior
Mariano Fortuny Marsal · 1862 · Hispanic Society of America
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Alfred Sisley
Pierre-Auguste Renoir · 1864 · Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection
![[Group of 266 Stereograph Views of the 1855 and/or 1867 Universal Expositions in Paris, France] by William H. Key](https://images.artwhisper.app/artworks/e8adc86e-83bb-42d8-b41d-d50a022b482d/f775c7e9-f7fb-467d-b822-15e581560708_lg.jpg)