Zeilschepen de Velizee, Dragon en Clarissa te water c. 1880 - 1900

This photograph, "Zeilschepen de Velizee, Dragon en Clarissa te water" by James Adamson, captures three sailing yachts on the water. Though undated, the photographic process itself – likely an albumen print – speaks to the burgeoning technologies of image-making in the 19th century. Consider the process: a glass plate negative, carefully coated with light-sensitive emulsion, exposed in the camera, then printed onto paper. The sepia tones result from the chemical development, a hallmark of early photography. Beyond the immediate aesthetic, the image hints at leisure and industry. Shipbuilding, sail-making, and seafaring are all evoked. The yachts themselves reflect skilled labor; each sail meticulously sewn, each wooden hull carefully constructed. This photograph, therefore, is more than just a pretty picture. It’s a material record of a specific time, place, and set of social conditions. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are products of complex processes, deeply entwined with labor and technological advancement.