Le Tub

Paris, 1880. 6 double-image photographic stereoscope cards with contemporary watercolor, mounted on printed card stock (88 x 175 mm.). Housed in the original hinged box with chromolithographed top panel and advertisements printed on the interior. In excellent condition. Complete set of 6 erotic stereoscope views featuring women in states of undress performing their toilettes: brushing their hair, bathing, toweling off. The images are made up of albumen prints on tissue paper, with watercolor painted on the versos and additional tissue paper backing, resulting in sepia toned pictures that transform into color images when held to the light. Some of them are also embossed, so that tiny pinpricks of light show through such elements as lace and fans. When placed into the stereoscope, these cards would create a three-dimensional vignette that only the person holding the instrument could see.

This set is part of a series called Nos Mondaines created by the Parisian photographer Adolphe Block. All the sets show partially clad women performing normal daily activities.