Camp at Sangina before 1895

This photogravure, "Camp at Sangina," was created by Frederick Saint John Gore, likely in the late 19th century, using a copper plate and light-sensitive gelatin tissue. This printmaking process, a forerunner to modern photography, allowed for the mass production of images with a rich tonal range. The material qualities of photogravure, with its etched lines and delicate layers of ink, render the scene with a sense of depth and detail. The final print would have been achieved with a printing press, and manual labor. These were early days in the development of photo-reproduction, a process now completely automated, but back then the quality and consistency of the image depended on the skill of the technicians involved. Consider how the mechanization of image-making, seen here in its early form, transformed art and culture, making visual information more accessible while also altering our relationship to labor and production. Appreciating the historical context of this photogravure allows us to understand the broader impact of technology on art and society.