Schöner Brunnen op de Hauptmarkt te Neurenberg 1860 - 1895

This photograph shows the Schöner Brunnen, or Beautiful Fountain, in Nuremberg. It’s an albumen print – a process involving coating paper with egg white to create a glossy surface for the photographic emulsion. The choice of albumen is significant; it gives the image clarity and a sense of precision. Look at the intricate details of the fountain – the delicate tracery, the many sculptures. This kind of detail would have been impossible to capture with earlier photographic methods. It speaks to the photographer's skill, but also to the material properties of albumen itself, which allowed for greater resolution. The fountain itself is a testament to the skilled labor of stonemasons and metalworkers. The photograph, too, reflects a similar investment of time and expertise. In both cases, the materials and processes used are integral to the artwork's meaning. They are not simply means to an end, but rather, active participants in the creation of beauty and significance. This challenges traditional notions of art history.