Gezicht op het Palazzo Vendramin Calergi aan het Canal Grande te Venetië c. 1880 - 1900

This photograph of the Palazzo Vendramin Calergi was taken by Carlo Naya using the 19th-century technology of albumen print. In this process, a paper base was coated with egg white, then sensitized with silver nitrate. When exposed to light through a negative, an image gradually appeared. It's amazing to think how the subtle tonal range we see here emerged through this careful orchestration of chemistry and light. What's striking is how this technique, though now antiquated, mirrors the social stratification of its time. Egg whites, a seemingly humble material, were meticulously prepared and applied, requiring skilled labor. Silver nitrate, a precious compound, was carefully measured, reflecting the economic investment in the final product. The final print, like the Venetian palazzo it depicts, speaks to a complex interplay of labor, material, and capital. It's a photograph, yes, but also a document of its own making.