Poort naar de tempel van Kalabsja before 1859

This albumen print of the 'Gate to the Temple of Kalabsja' was created by Francis Frith sometime in the mid-19th century. As a photographic process, albumen printing involves coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, then using a negative and sunlight to expose the image. Notice how the choice of material influences the print's appearance. The albumen gives a smooth surface allowing for fine detail to be captured. The sepia tone arises from the silver compounds used in the process. The tones and textures that you see arise through a combination of manual skill, chemistry and light. Frith wasn't just an artist. He was a businessman. He established a company that mass-produced photographs for the Victorian market, feeding a growing appetite for images of faraway lands. This photograph isn't just a record, it's a commodity, made possible by new technologies and distributed through an expanding global economy. Ultimately, understanding this print requires us to look at the tools, skills, and industrial processes that made it possible, as well as the aesthetic choices of the photographer.