Toren van het kasteel van Chambord c. 1875 - 1900

This photograph of the tower of the Château de Chambord in France was made using the 19th-century process of photography on paper. The hazy sepia tones and soft focus give the image a painterly feel. This aesthetic was, in part, a reflection of photography’s uneasy relationship with the established art forms of painting and sculpture. But beyond the immediate subject, consider the labor involved in extracting the silver from the ground, preparing the light-sensitive emulsion, and printing this image. Each step in the process reflects a global economy of extraction, production, and distribution. The photograph itself is a relatively reproducible medium. It could, in theory, become widely available. This hints at photography's potential to democratize representation, by putting images of spectacular buildings into ordinary hands. Paying close attention to the materials and making of this photograph enriches our understanding of its cultural significance, and blurs traditional distinctions between art, craft, and industrial production.