Binnenplaats van de grote moskee van Kairouan 1860 - 1900

This photograph captures the courtyard of the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia. Taken by an unknown photographer named Albert, it’s an albumen print, a process which involves coating paper with egg white to create a smooth surface for the silver-based photographic emulsion. The sepia tones and soft focus feel quite different from our digital images today. The albumen print was prized for its ability to capture fine detail and tonal range, giving a sense of depth to the architecture. Consider the labor involved. Not just the photographer’s skill, but also the many hands that would have quarried the stone, carved the columns and capitals, and constructed the mosque itself. This image, made possible by chemistry and light, preserves that history, reminding us that even the most seemingly straightforward image is the result of many processes, skills, and historical moments coming together. It encourages us to look beyond the surface and appreciate the layers of craft and labor embedded within.