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There is a continuing categorized thread in this blog called “Unintentional Absurdist“; there is another which follows intentional efforts that wind up being unintentional pieces of modern art that have surfaced before their time.  This later category includes the inscrutable color theory pre-Cubist work of Emily Vanderpoel, the spirit drawings of Georgina Houghton, the absolutely impressionist paintings of Victor Hugo (see here for examples of their work)–all of which were decades ahead of movements that would become standards of art, those these people were generally left behind. 

In yet another flavor of this category is the unintended works which either in their whole or pieces seem to be very modern, like this half of a stereocard of the CSN ram Atlanta.  It was a documentary photograph that has perhaps printed not-so-well and which has suffered changes to it surface over time–the result of which though, in my head, has rendered a terrific pre-Impressionist Impressionist photograph.  I think it is beautiful.

James River, Virginia. Confederate Ram ATLANTA after her capture.  Source; Prints andf Photographs Division, the Library of Congress.  

 Here’s the other half, complete with fingerprint: