Gezicht op Café Florian aan het Piazza San Marco te Venetië c. 1865 - 1900

Carlo Naya made this albumen print of the Piazza San Marco in Venice in the late 19th century. In this process, a paper base was coated with a layer of egg white, then sensitized with silver nitrate before being exposed to light using a negative. The resulting sepia tones give the image a soft, warm quality. But it's important to remember that photography in this era was itself a rapidly industrializing process. New chemical techniques meant that images could be created and reproduced at an unprecedented rate. The rise of photography was tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Studios like Naya's employed numerous assistants, each with specialized tasks. Ultimately, this photograph should remind us that even seemingly straightforward images are the products of complex social and technological systems. It challenges the traditional distinction between fine art and craft, demonstrating how both are intertwined with the forces of production and labor.