Gostiny Dvor, het 18de-eeuwse warenhuis, aan de Nevski Prospekt in Sint Petersburg before 1898

This is a photograph of Gostiny Dvor, the 18th-century department store on Nevsky Prospekt in St Petersburg, made by an anonymous photographer. The albumen print process, popular in the 19th century, involved coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, creating a surface that captured fine details. This method democratized image-making, yet required specialized knowledge and materials, thus reflecting a shift in artistic production influenced by industrialization. The photograph’s sepia tones and sharp focus bring forth the grandeur of Gostiny Dvor, the long facade emphasizing the building’s scale and the labor involved in its construction. Neoclassical in style, it evokes a sense of civic pride and order. The photograph itself mirrors this order, capturing a moment in time with clarity and precision. Understanding the material and historical context allows us to appreciate this photograph not just as a visual document, but as a record of architectural ambition and the evolution of image-making technologies.