Perspective Views

 

(vue perspective, vue d'optique or in German, Guckkastenblättern) were meant to be seen with a special viewer to enhance the three dimensional effect.

Very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, they were designed according to strict principles of linear perspective, with a distant object placed in the center of the print. Viewed through a special "machine," the three dimensional effect was enhanced.

The colors of these wonderful old prints are often bright and naive, as for children's illustrations. Traveling vendors -- who went around to fairs offering views of the images through the Optical Machine for a few pennies -- often did the handcoloring themselves, so it tends to be a bit rough compared with other period engravings. In our view this adds to the charm of these pieces!