Gezicht op de binnenplaats van het Ospedale Maggiore in Milaan c. 1860 - 1880

This photographic image of the Ospedale Maggiore in Milan was captured by Giorgio Sommer using the wet collodion process. This technique, popular in the mid-19th century, involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals immediately before exposure in the camera. The resulting image, a sharp and detailed depiction of the hospital's courtyard, speaks to the meticulous labor involved. Each photograph required careful preparation and immediate development, a far cry from the ease of modern digital photography. The very materiality of the photograph—the glass plate, the emulsion, the careful development process—reflects a moment in time when image-making was a labor-intensive craft. These early photographic processes also democratized image-making, influencing the creative practices and aesthetics of both craft and fine arts. Paying attention to the materials and making processes of photography allows us to appreciate its unique social and cultural significance.