Hofjäger (Original Title) 1866

Curator: Here we have Hermann Wilhelm Vogel's "Hofjäger", taken in 1866. It's an albumen print. The image invites contemplation. Editor: It's surprisingly serene, a very quiet composition for the time it was made. The tonal range emphasizes the arch of trees, framing what looks to be buildings further in the landscape. Curator: Considering the photographic processes in the mid-19th century, the production of this image is quite involved. Albumen printing necessitated coating paper with egg whites and silver nitrate, a demanding practice often reliant on the exploitation of labor. It reflects broader issues of industrialization in artistic production. Editor: Yes, and what Vogel achieves formally with this, specifically the composition and light. The placement of the vanishing point, dead center, is something photographers like Vogel explored throughout this period. It enhances the feeling of depth and tranquility. Curator: I wonder about the original setting for this albumen print. It suggests wealth and leisure within specific social echelons, particularly those connected to hunting and land ownership. Editor: Hunting was intrinsically linked to displays of social status and power within 19th-century Germany, shaping its leisure activities, public space and architectural expressions. It also implies this work must have been designed for private consumption and admiration. Curator: So its purpose goes beyond the formal or even merely pictorial and becomes representative of the socio-economic norms and even political framework from that moment. What remains palpable in Vogel’s art today, despite a temporal remove, is how processes of production and their accessibility condition the consumption of these images. Editor: Certainly, by understanding the visual mechanics at play here, from the photographic processing to the choices around the formal rendering of this scene, we grasp how carefully the image was built to express not just what it shows, but the values it embodies. Curator: Indeed, the albumen print then becomes a window into a whole network of resources, workforces, values, and practices. Thank you. Editor: Thank you.