Gevel van de kathedraal van Le Havre (cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Grâce) c. 1870 - 1890

This is a photograph of the facade of the Cathedral of Le Havre, made by Étienne Neurdein. It is an albumen print, a process which involves coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, resulting in a smooth surface that captures fine details. The albumen print process, developed in the mid-19th century, was widely adopted for its ability to produce sharp, detailed images. It created a popular form of photography used for portraiture, landscapes, and architectural documentation, as seen here. The warm, sepia tone of the print, achieved through the chemical reactions during development, adds to the image's nostalgic quality. Neurdein's choice of this process reflects the era's fascination with capturing and preserving visual information. The photograph not only documents the cathedral’s architectural features but also reveals the social and cultural values placed on precision, representation, and technological advancement during the rise of industrial society. Ultimately, this image blurs the boundary between art and documentation.