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Thomas'
Optical Raree Show
"Oh.
You shall see vat you shall see"
Rare
views from the new world
1760
Popularizing
the copper engravings of Giambattista
Piranesi
1720 - 1778
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Rome
- Piazza del Popolo
mouve mouse over |
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From
the Rarekiek, 17th.
& 18th.
Century optical entertainment, to the
birth of Television
"Ha
ha ! Messieurs & Mesdames ! daar sien
um al weeromme de Savoiaarte, in de ordre
parfaitement,
met de Rarekiek, met de nouvelles Pieces,
o so mooi ! fraai curieus ! Keeve wel
akte !"
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The urge to create the artificial illusion
of depth, as seen in the stereoscope (forerunner
of the view master), is very
old. On the stereoscope
page this illusion is explained and illustrated
by stereo-viewers from different sources.
Hyperlinks
leads you to additional pages with stereo
photographs, different techniques &
subjects. Although stereoscopy was a "novelty"
in the 19th. Century, the artificial
illusion of
depth was not new at all!
18th. Century projection techniques
where able to conjure up spectacular 3-dimensional
ghosts by Phantasmagoria
techniques.
Even the 17th. Century perspective
boxes (see Samuel
van Hoogstraten), besides
many other wondrous effects, where
able to surprise their viewers with "realistic"
true life images
in artificially constructed boxes using
well thought-out anamorphic principles.
See stereoscope
page for a short introduction history
on the 17th. Century perspective
box.
The
use of these clever anamorphic painting
techniques is the main reason for the
supremacy of the 17th. Century
perspective box. See
anamorphic art explained.
The present page, however, confronts us
with the more modest 18th.
Century descendant of the ingenious 17th.
anamorphic perspective box: The PEEPSHOW
and his wondrous day & night prints.
The PEEPSHOW
box (Boite
d'
OPTIQUE
France -
rarekiek
Netherlands -
mondo nuovo /
NOVO
Italy - GUCKKASTEN
Germany)
is much more simpler but also able to
create the depth illusion through viewing
architectural & topographical engravings
with linear perspective via a large bi-convex
lens using our two eyes. The
"Tilburg Rarekiek"
has two lenses for two onlookers at the
same time. The bi-convex increase the
3-D illusion of the often exaggerated
perspective views,
(Vue
d' Optique).
Since every colour has his own focusing
point, the chromatic aberration of the
bi-convex also help in creating a surprising
depth experience in details. Red, for
example, is often seen "floating"
above the lines of an engraving, an astonishing
effect! The image below illustrate a typical,
late 17th. Century or early
18th., Century Rarekiek
made in oak.
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Early
Netherlandish Rarekiek made in oak.
Rollover
image.
(Compare a Rarekiek box with a Zograscope
viewer)
(Compare
a Rarekiek box with a Television)
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The
main cause however for the illusion of
depth, seen and experienced in a vintage
Peepshow, is the artificially often exagerated
perspective of these hand coloured engravings
seen through one bi-convex lens with a
large diameter and small dioptre. Opposite
to today's frequent presentation and use,
vue d'optiques are NOT
made for direct viewing withouth optical
aid and certainly NOT
for mounting in a passe-partout and frame.
The latter, unfortunately, is often seen.
Correct use of these optical prints can
create wondrous "day and night effects"
combined with a 3-D true life illusion.
Views meant to be seen in a Rarekiek
(Dutch word for
Peepshow) are often pierced in
appropriate details (windows,
street lights, moon & stars, artificial
fire work..., etc.) and ameliorated
with coloured transparant paper for enchanting
effects. The true forerunner of the
dissolving effect.
Figures painted on tissue paper mounted
in window openings is another most effective
translucent painting technique to ameliorate
these views.
Opaque cut-out details, mounted on the
rear of a print, can conjure up romantic
"against the
light" effects, even in views
without pierced parts. See the "Royal
Palace of Windsor".
For the "Myriade
of effects" seen in these
vintage perspective prints, I own thanks
to Jan Meeremans, founder of MYRIADE,
who offered me the use of his digital
photo studio to enable me in reproducing
these prints and unveil, partly, their
enchanting effects online.
Beside many other tasks, MYRIADE
specialize in the digitalization of historical
visual media for archives, museums &
collections through high quality scans
and photographs. For further information,
please contact Jan
Meeremans. |
Le
Mont de la St. Turqe à Frankfort |
In
analogy with the above explained optical
peepshow boxes (showing
a view of far-away and unknown places),
the internet (and
intranets') are today's peepshow
and window to the world, offering a wealth
of images and information only by looking
'into' our monitor.
The ancient & well known 18th.
Century architectural
copper engravings by Giovanni
Battista Piranesi where another
type of 'window to the world' to unveil
historical architectural subjects as seen
in his 'Veduti
di Roma'. The latter series of
large format engravings where often popularized
in optical views for the peepshow box as
can be seen in the image of 'Piazza
del Popolo' on top of this page.
See also the exhibition in The
Getty & MSK
Gent & U-Gent.
The above 18th.,
Century Rarekiek
however worked with candles as a light source.
The light emission of 4 candles was sufficient
to conjure-up enchanting night scenes.
To ameliorate the effect a sky tromp l'oeil
is added on top.
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Two
double candle
holders in iron where
used to illuminate the vue
d' optiques from behind when
day light was not available.
For night effects during the
day, the candle holders where
removed to enable daylight
illuminating the engravings
from behind in a closed box.
For the latter use, a removeable
sliding shutter door is provided.
See further. |
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Removeable
coloured sky tromp
l'oeil, used for most
topographical & architectural
scenes.
The remaining colours are
original and only gently washed
during restoration to remove
dust and make them visible.
The sky tromp l'oeil ameliorate
the effect by blocking sight
on the lid. It also help in
creating the depth illusion
when viewing an image inside
the Rarekiek.. |
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The
Rarekiek is constructed telescopic
to make it collapsible for slightly
increasing or reducing the optical
enlargment by the aid of the bi-convex
lenses.
The first image illustrate the Rarekiek
at his maximum length. On the left
we see the Rarekiek at his minimum
size.
During his long life, the rarekiek
was send as a cargo from Groningen
to Tilburg (Netherlands)
In the latter town, the peepshow
box was found.
A dispatch lable, on top of the
lid, reveals this event which is
part of the history of this rare
box, presumably of Dutch origin.
Move mouse
over image to see dispatch lable. |
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Optische
Kasten
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Below
are two, superimposed, images of
the "Tilburg
Rarekiek". Rollover
image. The position
of the coloured sky tromp
l'oeil is clearly visible
on top of the box.
The removeable sliding shutter door
is partly open for demonstration
purpose. Both candle holders hang
inside, recognizeable by their hooks
for hanging. A vue d' optique is
placed inside.
On the left, a detail of a printed
toy panorama Magic Lantern slide
is shown.
Two girls are looking into a Peepshow
or Rarekiek. |
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The Tilburg
Rarekiek - Move
mouse over to see in profile, with lid |
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"Oh.
You shall see vat you shall see"
Take
a PEEP inside the Tilburg Rarekiek
and discover the enchanting world
of 18th.
Century optical entertainment.
Peepshows where presented by itinerant
showman, travelling from village to
village to amaze their onlookers.
Even today, the "old-Fashioned"
Rarekiek is able to astonish the modern
public spoilt by high-tech multimedia
devices.
Deception and illusion, as seen in
modern technology of today, has several
mature 17th.
Century & 18th.
Century precursors.
Without doubt, the vintage peepshow
is one of them.
Move mouse over
to see the rear side. |
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The bottom of the "Tilburg
Rarekiek" clearly unveils
how the telescopic mecanisme works.
The disign of the box is very simple
but most effective to use.
More information about other Peepshows
will be appreciated.
Please send e-mail to thomas@visual-media.be
I hope you will enjoy some of the
"Tilburg
Rarekiek" views below,
conjuring-up their enchanting night
effects.
Click on the
bottom of the Rarekiek to see a
lithograph depicting a
domestic Magic Lantern show.
The projected image of the lantern
on the sreen shows a Harlequin demonstrating
his Rarekiek. |
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xi
yang jing
The Peepshow
Box Tradition
in China
On the left we see an old photograph
depicting a Peepshow very similar
compared to the today's Peepshow
in Hefang Street Hangzhou.
According to several online 'SKYPE'
contacts with Chinese people based
in Hangzhou, the depicted apparatus
is owned by a family who kept this
itinerant tradition since a very
long time.
Besides the
importance of this image the finding
illustrate the often surprising
possibilities of the internet.
The image was received after less
than half an hour 'first time contact'
with a very helpful Chinese woman. |
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'Day
& Night' Views from Holland
La
splendeur de la lumière ne peut
exister sans ombres*
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De Gemeene Buurt - De Hollandse Straat
(Stage decor in the first theatre, Leidseplein)
Amsterdam |
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Buyten
Hof, Den Haag |
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Gezicht
van het Groot Hooft der stad Dordrecht
- 1768 |
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Voorhoutkaai
Den Haag |
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Het
oude mannen en vrouwen huis - Amsterdam |
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Amsterdam, Oude Wal |
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Day
& Night views from other enchanting
places
Ars
Magna Lucis et Umbrae |
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Porte
del Canale Grande verso il ponte dei Ebra
di Venezia |
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Westminster
Church |
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Triumphhal
Jules Cesar |
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A
View of the Royal Palace of Windsor -
20 August 1751 (Vue d'Optique with transparent
& shadow effect) |
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Place
Royal de Nancy |
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Royal
Exchange hal London - 1781 |
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Palais
du Prince de Liechtenstein |
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View
at Nancy
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The
old Gabelles de Jules Cesar à Vienne
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Un
Lac et Village de la Cochinchine |
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Chateau
de Meudon |
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Escurial
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Academie
Vienne |
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Dinner
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The 'elegant' Zograscope
(Compare
a Zograscope with a Rarekiek
box)
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Zograscope
The above Peepshow images are
transparent views able to conjure-up
'day and
night effects' due to
pierced and cut-out parts in
the engravings, backed with
colored tissue paper.
Suchlike views where made especially
for viewing inside a Peepshow
box.
However, these peepshow views
and boxes are rare.
More common are the colored
optical 'vue
d 'optiques' with no
further amelioration to heighten
the artificial illusion of depth.
The apparatus to view suchlike,
only daylight,
views is known as the Zograscope.
The horizontal placed view is
seen through a bi-convex lens
via an inclined mirror.
The typical three dimensional
illusion, due to the perspective
of the views and the lens, is
the same as seen in the Peepshow
box.
Unfortunately,
these views are often found
framed in a passe-partout for
commercial reasons which makes
them not suitable for their
often spectacular purpose.
Identical views can be found
in the two different versions.
Transparent views
for 'day and night' effects
in the Peepshow or opaque
colored views
for indirect viewing with the
elegant Zograscope.
Both versions of the apparatus
and images are equally interesting
for the media archeologist.
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Zograscope
collection
Veerle Van Goethem
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Sant-Ulrich
(hand colored opaque view)
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| A
dog's peep into the Mutoscope
(Circa 1900) |
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Click
image to see
a peepview television.
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From
Peepshow to the Birth of
Television in England:
1923
The first photographical
moving images started in
the peepshow
tradition, looking
through a narrow opening
to watch by illusion a reconstruction
of the world.
This peepshow tradition
as seen in the above apparatus
was also used in the Mutoscope,
Kinetoscope, etc., prior
to the Lumiéres,
bringing cinema into popular
parlors for individual viewing.
Even the first vintage television
sets where suitable only
for few onlookers. This
however was due to technical
limitations of the scanning
discs based on the 'Nipkow
principle' mechanical television
sets.
Click on the image left
to see a suchlike early
mechanical television peepview
apparatus, an amateur build
model by Hewel, who is seen
looking into his Televisor
in 1930, two years before
the BBC started commercial
broadcasting based on this
Nipkow disc standard, improved
by Baird.
The postcard on the left
shows a Pierrot with his
dog looking-in a wooden
Mutoscope.
Although a romantic interpretation,
it clearly shows the long
tradition of the peepshow
box applied here
to view moving images prior
to film and television. |
May
2006 - Hangzhou |
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Hefang
Street - The Peepshow
in Hangzhou, China. |
Even
today the original
Peepshow still exist.
This photograph
is taken by a friend
on the first of
May 2006 in Hefang
Street Hangzhou,
China.
The drawing on top
of the peepshow
depict the viewing
apparatus in use
on the photograph.
Itinerant
Peepshowmen
are often seen in
smaller towns in
China.
This huge peepshow
has 5 peepholes
to enable 5 people
to enjoy the hidden
world of an old
but still vivid
tradition.
With thanks to Peter. |
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