Iris laevigata of Japanse iris before 1895

This photograph of Iris laevigata was made by Kazumasa Ogawa, a pioneer of photography in Japan. Ogawa used the collotype process, a printing technique that creates an image from a glass plate coated with a light-sensitive gelatin. The resulting print is characterized by its soft, continuous tones, quite different from the graininess of many photographic prints of the era. The process involved meticulously exposing the gelatin-coated plate to a negative, then washing away the unexposed gelatin. This leaves a printing surface that can hold ink in varying amounts, allowing for subtle gradations of color. The final print captures the delicate texture and form of the iris, rendering it with a lifelike presence. Ogawa's choice of the collotype process speaks to a desire to elevate photography to the status of fine art, aligning it with traditional printmaking techniques. By emphasizing the materiality of the image, he invites us to consider photography as a form of craft, demanding skill and artistry.