Luitenant Wegner 1941 - 1944

This photograph, titled 'Luitenant Wegner,' was made by an anonymous photographer, using photographic paper and chemical processing. Photography has always been tied to wider issues of labor and politics. The creation of photographic paper requires the extraction of raw materials, and the use of complex chemical processes, relying on industrial production. The development of photography coincided with the rise of mass production and consumption, impacting labor practices and social structures. The photograph is a small and intimate object, capturing a moment in time, yet it is also a product of complex social and economic forces. Consider the amount of work involved in the production process, from the manufacturing of the camera and film to the developing and printing of the image. Paying attention to its material existence challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, urging us to recognize its place within broader histories of creative practices and aesthetics.