Untitled (Ruin of a Round Fortress Building) c. 1857

This photograph, of what appears to be the ruin of a round fortress building, was created by Robert MacPherson, though the date is unknown. It is made with the albumen print process. In this process, an emulsion of egg white and silver salts is applied to paper, creating a surface that’s highly light-sensitive. The print achieves its tonal range by the careful manipulation of light and chemicals during development. It is essentially a hand-made photographic object. The materiality of photography in the mid-19th century speaks volumes about the labor and skill involved in image-making. It wasn't yet the age of click-and-go pictures. Photography was a chemical craft, requiring knowledge, patience, and precise execution. MacPherson’s use of the albumen print allowed him to capture the texture of the fortress walls and imbue the scene with a sepia-toned, painterly quality, elevating the scene from a mere record to a work of art.