Victorian Light and Magic

April 25, 2004 7:15 AM

Victorian Light and Magic Thomas Weynants' Early Visual Media site describes and illustrates a range of nineteenth century technologies for producing and projecting images and illusions, including phantasmagoria, Pepper's ghost, optical toys such as anamorphoses, steroscopes and stereo photographs, imaging techniques such as the physiontrace, and genres such as diableries (visions of hell) . (Links in site labelled 'nudes' or 'risque' NSFW in a Victorian risque kind of way.)
posted by carter (9 comments total)

excellent stuff...thanks!
posted by amberglow at 9:49 AM on April 25, 2004

Oh man - 'anamorphoses!' I've been trying to figure out what those are called for the last month or so. Thanks!
posted by adamkempa at 12:21 PM on April 25, 2004

Great links! I especially love the phantasmagoria and diableries links you provided. Each one could have been a separate front-page post!
posted by vacapinta at 1:31 PM on April 25, 2004

Any site with a "Military Uses of Phantasmagoria" page gets an A in my book. Thanks!
posted by gimonca at 1:38 PM on April 25, 2004

Great link. Too much to play with to write comments on.
posted by th3ph17 at 4:24 PM on April 25, 2004

*coming up for air*

A portal for the danse macabre! Links to places like the Hauchs Physiske Cabinet!

This is the kind of site that is so rich, unfortunately, most lazy mefites who want their links hand-delivered will miss out...
posted by vacapinta at 5:49 PM on April 25, 2004

I missed the danse macabre page, so thanks for pointing that out! But I did enjoy Early French culture physique photography by Professor Edmond Desbonnet & others: 19C French weightlifters and bodybuilders in exhibitionist poses ...
posted by carter at 6:17 PM on April 25, 2004

This is an instant favorite Metafilter post. Thanks, carter. One of the best uses of mouseovers that I've ever seen.
posted by iconomy at 7:56 PM on April 25, 2004

Wow, I finally had the time to look through this site at length -- and what an incredible treat! Thanks so much, carter.
posted by scody at 2:23 PM on April 26, 2004