Dorpsgezicht in Bengalen, India 1867

This photograph, "Dorpsgezicht in Bengalen, India," was taken in India by Samuel Bourne using the wet collodion process, which was popular in the mid-19th century. The materiality of photography is often overlooked, but in this image, it’s key. The process required Bourne to coat a glass plate with chemicals, expose it in the camera while still wet, and then develop it immediately. This meant Bourne had to carry a portable darkroom with him, adding to the labor of creating the image. The sepia tone, the soft focus, and the rich details are all consequences of this process. The scene itself – a quiet village, seemingly untouched – presents an idea of timelessness. Yet, this was produced through highly industrialized means. Bourne wasn't just an artist; he was an entrepreneur, mass-producing images for a European audience hungry for views of the East. Photography, in his hands, was a tool of documentation and of commerce.