Lantern slides were used for home entertainment and public lectures, and they were displayed in photographic exhibitions. Alfred Stieglitz made lantern slides throughout the 1890s.

When was lantern slides invented?

History. Lantern slides first originated in the 17th century and consisted of hand-painted illustrations on glass that were projected with light to be used as a form of storytelling. It was not until 1849, ten years after the invention of photography that photographic lantern slides were introduced.

What is a magic lantern in photography?

The magic lantern, also known by its Latin name laterna magica, is an early type of image projector that used pictures—paintings, prints, or photographs—on transparent plates (usually made of glass), one or more lenses, and a light source.