Gezicht op het plein van de Chiesa di San Giorgio Maggiore richting de campanile van de San Marco te Venetië 1860 - 1870

This photograph captures the Piazza San Marco in Venice, and it was made by Paolo Salviati. Photography is of course a mechanical process; the final image relies on the precise manipulation of light and chemicals. Yet it is also a highly mediated practice. Here, we see Salviati’s considered framing of the scene. The rigid geometry of the paving stones, the columns receding into the distance, and the carefully placed figures draw us into the composition. Photography in the 19th century was far from instant. Each image required time, skill, and no small amount of equipment. Consider, too, the social context that made this image possible: the rise of tourism, the desire to capture and disseminate views of famous places, and the complex economy of representation. This photograph isn't just a snapshot, but a carefully constructed view that reflects the values and priorities of its time. By considering the materials, processes, and social context of its making, we can understand the photograph not just as a record of a place, but as a material artifact embedded in a particular moment in history.