They actually appear to be stereopticon images of dioramas, which no longer exist. Nevertheless, way cool! posted by yhbc at 7:18 AM on September 20, 2007
DU, some (and only some, if you look carefully) become stereopticon images, but they begin life as tabletop dioramas. From the 3rd link:
When viewing the diableries, different styles are recognised! A lot are entirely real 3-D diorama settings. (left)
Others are only a plaster relief moulding. (right)
Further, several diableries are a combination of a painted or 2-D background with three-dimensional elements in the foreground.
The first "more" link suggests they predated photography as dioramas as well, and then were photographed as the technology became widely available.
Brilliant, thanks. I particularly like "La Bibliothèque Infernal" with the grinning skulls on the shelves... posted by patricio at 7:28 AM on September 20, 2007
awesome! I did that "magic eye" thing to see them in stereo...
i just wish someone's 3 year old hadn't dribbled watercolors over some of them.... posted by TechnoLustLuddite at 7:44 AM on September 20, 2007
I think I would sleep with someone in exchange for this book. posted by hermitosis at 7:45 AM on September 20, 2007
Wow. Made by Satan's Fingers, no doubt. Hail Satan! posted by OmieWise at 7:50 AM on September 20, 2007
I want Ray Harryhausen and Tim Burton to collaborate on turning these into a film. posted by TechnoLustLuddite at 7:57 AM on September 20, 2007
Oooooo, that would be a great movie. posted by oddman at 8:07 AM on September 20, 2007
On the weekends I make detailed dioramas of Anton Levay and Sammy Davis Jr making out. Related. Kinda. posted by damn dirty ape at 8:17 AM on September 20, 2007
These are amazing. And if you're telling the truth, damn dirty ape, than I think I want to have your evil baby. posted by mygothlaundry at 8:34 AM on September 20, 2007
Ah, so that's what the brothers Quay had in their ViewMasters as tots. posted by everichon at 8:43 AM on September 20, 2007 [1 favorite]
Wonderful post, thanks mediareport.
Devil breaks both your hands, takes your stuff and runs away... posted by everichon at 8:44 AM on September 20, 2007
How come we don't hear more about the Life of Satan? I think this is a very rich topic. posted by ottereroticist at 8:47 AM on September 20, 2007
I'll be damned. These are the same activities we humans engage in up here, but without the blood, screaming, and shit. You don't suppose we have it backwards?
"It is now generally believed that these views were produced as social satire on the regime of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte who, as Napoleon III, was Emperor of France from 1852 to 1870. More overt lampooning of him and his government was liable to lead to a long period of imprisonment!
There are a myriad of small, almost hidden, messages within these views and work is currently in progress to reveal more information. They can, so far, be attributed to Hennetier and Habert. They were created on table-tops with small clay models that were used again and again in different poses. An idea of scale can be had from a careless view where the table legs are visible, and one view which features a real stuffed blackbird."
The little red lights for the eyes...oooh. It's easy to see the artist/s had such fun making this, miniature, convivial scenes of skeletons playing cards and hanging out together.
By accident, it seems to me, quite a Buddhist meditation on the impermanence of life.
fatcatslim, that link is stunningly good. I wasn't expecting very much, but I ended it almost near tears. Worth a fpp on it's own, i'd say. posted by empath at 11:06 AM on September 20, 2007
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posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:39 AM on September 20, 2007