Gezicht op het Mauritshuis in Den Haag c. 1860 - 1900

This is Andries Jager’s “View of the Mauritshuis in The Hague,” made using photography, a relatively new medium in the 19th century. The photograph's sepia tones and the soft focus are a direct result of the materials and processes used. In this case, the chemical reactions on the photographic plate define the image's aesthetic. Photography in Jager's time was less about instant snapshots, and more about alchemy. Consider the labor involved. Each print required careful preparation of the light-sensitive emulsion, precise timing during exposure, and meticulous development in the darkroom. It was a far cry from today’s point-and-shoot culture. The very act of capturing an image was a craft. By focusing on photography's materiality and production, we appreciate it as a crafted object, challenging the notion that photography is purely a transparent window onto reality. It is a fusion of science, craft, and artistic vision.