Gezicht op Jupiter before 1887

This is one of Henry Frères’ _Gezicht op Jupiter_, a photographic document of Jupiter. The glass plate negatives, mounted in this book, are the result of a painstaking labor. To capture the light reflecting off a planet millions of miles away, they would have used specialized telescopes and early photographic techniques, manipulating light-sensitive chemicals on glass. The images are a testament to the skill involved in early astrophotography, requiring precise timing and an understanding of optics and chemistry. Consider how this work collapses distinctions between art and science, observation and representation. The Henry Brothers were not only image-makers, but also skilled laboratory workers. By mastering the tools of science, and patiently applying themselves to a highly demanding, specialized process, they gave us something that has both documentary and aesthetic value. The physicality of the photographic process is important here. By carefully examining the images, we can appreciate the convergence of material and social contexts, and the value of skilled labor in creating new ways of seeing our universe.