Gezicht op de Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation te Nancy before 1896

This photograph of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation in Nancy captures the city from an unknown photographer’s perspective. Though photography is often seen as a purely representational medium, consider the labor involved. From the mining of silver for the light-sensitive emulsion to the industrial production of photographic paper, unseen hands were essential. Look closely at the ironwork in the foreground. Each curve and flourish was carefully forged, requiring intense heat and skilled hammering. These gates, likely commissioned by the Church, represent the confluence of faith, craft, and commerce. This image invites us to look beyond the surface, to consider the conditions of its making, and how artistry and industry intertwine. It reminds us that every image, like every object, carries within it a story of human endeavor, challenging us to see photography not just as a tool for documentation, but as a craft embedded in a network of social relations.