Gezicht op de fontein La Cibeles in Madrid 1857 - 1880

This albumen print of the Cibeles Fountain in Madrid was made by Juan Laurent, a leading photographer in 19th-century Spain. It’s an early example of photography used to document public monuments, which speaks volumes about the rise of tourism and civic pride during that period. Laurent's choice of albumen printing, a process involving coating paper with egg white, gives the image a distinctive sepia tone and smooth surface. This process, while technically demanding, was widely adopted for its ability to produce detailed and durable prints. The sharp clarity of the photograph allows us to appreciate the craftsmanship of the fountain itself, and also prompts us to consider the labor involved in both its creation and its depiction. Photography, like other industrial processes, involved a division of labor: from the sourcing of materials to the skilled execution of the printing process. By considering photography as a craft, we gain a deeper appreciation for its artistic and cultural significance, challenging traditional distinctions between high art and more vernacular forms of visual representation.