[Solomon Alexander Hart] 1860s

This is a photograph of Solomon Alexander Hart, made by John and Charles Watkins sometime in the mid-19th century. The image itself is a product of the wet collodion process, a photographic technique that was innovative for its time. The process involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it in a camera, and then developing it immediately. This had to be done quickly, before the collodion dried. Each print like this one would have been made with this same labor-intensive procedure. While photography democratized image-making, it also introduced new forms of labor and expertise. Think about the photographer's skill in controlling the chemical reactions and the printing process. Though not “fine art” in the traditional sense, photography demanded a degree of technical knowledge and craftsmanship. The photograph also offers a fascinating look at the culture of portraiture in the 19th century, and the rise of photography as a commercial industry. By considering all these factors, we can fully appreciate its cultural and historical significance.