Zeven afbeeldingen van wegen en dorpen in Libanon before 1898

This collection of seven black and white photographs of Lebanese roads and villages was compiled by various makers, printed on a page in a book. The process of collating photographs like this speaks to the growth of tourism and infrastructure in Lebanon. It is very different from a painting or sculpture. The material is not just paper and ink, but also the light-sensitive emulsion that captured these scenes. Photography in this period was becoming increasingly accessible, yet still required specialized knowledge and equipment. The printing of multiple images on a single page allowed for wider distribution and consumption. The images themselves depict roads being built and the communities living alongside them. As such, they offer a glimpse into the labor and social contexts of this period. The photographs act as documents, but also as commodities, packaged for consumption by a European audience. By considering the materials, means of production, and the social context in which they were made, we gain a deeper understanding of the photographic collection, and their relationship to industry, labor, and the circulation of images.