Zeilboot op het water before 1899

This page comes from a book by Étienne Wallon, made around the turn of the century, likely using a photogravure printing process. The page shows a sailboat on the water, as well as a photographic essay with text in German. Photogravure is an intaglio process. An image is photographically transferred to a metal plate, which is then etched. The plate is inked, and then pressed onto paper, creating a print with rich tonal depth and detail. The nature of the process means that each print is subtly unique. As a hand-worked process, photogravure involved specialized labor, and the prints were considered luxury objects. The book format here is important, as it domesticates photography, bringing it into the sphere of the printed word. One can imagine a reader, poring over these pages, learning about the latest developments in photographic technology. The book becomes a site of knowledge, and a portable museum in its own right. So, next time you see a photograph, think about the materials and processes involved in its creation. These are not just neutral documents; they are carefully crafted objects, imbued with social and cultural significance.