Gezicht op Edinburgh, Schotland, in de verte het monument voor Sir Walter Scott 1854

This sepia-toned photograph, 'View of Edinburgh, Scotland, with the Sir Walter Scott Monument in the Distance' was created by Ross & Thomson. It reflects an early moment in the medium's development, when photography was as much a chemical process as an aesthetic one. The albumen print process used here, popular in the 19th century, involved coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, making it sensitive to light. A glass negative would then be placed on the prepared paper, and exposed to sunlight. The resulting print captures the fine details of Edinburgh's landscape, from the imposing architecture to the natural topography. Considered a craft, this photographic process required meticulous preparation and skillful execution, reflecting a significant investment of labor and expertise to produce just one image. Viewed through the lens of making, this photograph bridges the gap between industrial production and artisanal practice. It reminds us that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, human skill and material processes remain central to the creation of meaning.