MacKenzie (Tongue) 1843 - 1847

This photograph, MacKenzie, was created between 1843 and 1848 by Hill and Adamson. It's a calotype, an early photographic process using paper coated with silver iodide. Now, photography may seem like a purely technological medium, but the calotype has a distinctly handmade quality. The final image is soft, almost painterly, a far cry from the sharp precision we expect today. Notice how the texture of the paper itself seems to seep into the image, creating a warm, almost sepia-toned effect. The calotype process demanded a different kind of labor than later photographic methods. Each print required careful preparation and a deep understanding of the materials. This hands-on approach infuses the image with a sense of craft, elevating it beyond a mere record and into the realm of art. By exploring early photographs, we can appreciate that every image, no matter how mass-produced it seems, always bears the traces of human skill and intention.