Binnenplaats van Schloss Heidelberg, Duitsland 1860 - 1875

This delicate print of the Binnenplaats van Schloss Heidelberg, was made by L. Meder using a photographic process. Consider how photography, initially embraced for its supposed objectivity, always involves choices about what to include and how to frame it. Here, the soft sepia tones create a romantic, almost nostalgic effect. The choice of this printing method, with its association with age and history, imbues the image with a sense of timelessness, despite photography being a relatively new medium at the time. Think about the labor involved, too. While photography democratized image-making to some extent, it still required expertise and equipment, placing it within a network of production and consumption. The artist's choice of technique invites us to consider how photographic processes contribute to the aesthetic and cultural significance of the artwork. It challenges the traditional hierarchy of artistic skills by blurring the lines between the mechanical and the artistic, thus encouraging a more comprehensive appreciation.