During the American Civil War, many aspects of photography were still very much in their early developmental stages. Lack of technological advancements prevented photography at the scene on the battlefield, so much of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s “Photography and the American Civil War” exhibition features images after the bloody battles, from the soldier camps and medical tents.
In addition to many the documentation — not to mention a few early photographs of Abraham Lincoln — there are a few fascinating anomalies like the exhibition room equipped with stereoscopic image viewers that allow visitors to see the campsites of soldiers in three dimensions. “Photography and the American Civil War,” Apr 2 – Sep 2, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
