Fabriek Soeka Sarie 1861 1863 - 1869

This albumen print, "Fabriek Soeka Sarie", was made in 1861 by Woodbury & Page. Photography, like other industrial processes, often obscures the hands that produce it. The final image, sepia-toned and seemingly objective, masks the labor involved in its making. From the preparation of the photographic plates to the development and printing of the image, each step requires skill and care. Looking at this photograph of a factory in Java, we might also consider the relationship between the photographic process and the industrialized scene that it depicts. The factory, likely producing goods for export, embodies a system of labor and capital that extends far beyond this single location. The workers, barely visible in the photograph, are part of a global network of production and consumption. Considering the photograph as a material object, we begin to see how it is deeply implicated in the same systems of power and exchange. Ultimately, reflecting on the materials, making, and context of this artwork allows us to consider broader social issues of labor, politics, and consumption.