Stuff To Blow Your Mind The Artifact: Claude Glass
Feb 12, 2025
Discover the intriguing history of the Claude Glass, a 19th-century black mirror that transformed how British tourists viewed landscapes. Explore the parallels between this device and today's Instagram filters, both of which reshape our experiences. The discussion highlights the evolution of landscape perception through art, particularly the influence of Claude Lorraine, while pondering modern dilemmas surrounding authenticity in an age of AI-generated content. It's a captivating look at how technology mediates our engagement with the natural world.
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Experiencing Through Technology
- People often experience events through technology, like recording a concert instead of purely watching.
- Robert Lamb admits to taking notes and photos of artwork, sometimes forgetting to simply experience it.
Claude Glass Precursor
- This behavior isn't new; the Claude Glass, a 19th-century tool, served a similar purpose.
- It allowed users to view landscapes through a dark mirror, altering their perception.
19th Century Instagram
- The Claude Glass is described as a 19th-century Instagram filter by Joanna from the National Gallery London.
- Like Instagram filters, it offered different shades to modify the landscape's appearance.