Gezicht op Slot Belvédère 1866 - 1900

This photograph, “Gezicht op Slot Belvédère,” was produced by M. Frankenstein & Co. using a process involving light-sensitive chemicals and a glass plate negative. The albumen print, created from a photograph negative, captures the grandeur of the Belvedere Palace, but the image is as much about the labor of representation as it is about the architecture itself. Photography in this era was a complex, hands-on process. Each print required careful preparation and skillful manipulation of materials, not unlike other forms of craft production. The tonal range, from the deep shadows of the foliage to the highlights on the palace facade, speaks to the photographer’s mastery of the medium. However, it also reflects the social context of image-making at the time. The rise of photography was linked to the burgeoning middle class and their desire for accessible art. While the palace itself represents aristocratic power, the photograph democratizes its image, making it available for mass consumption. By considering the materials and processes involved, we can appreciate how this photograph blurs the lines between fine art and craft, and between elite and popular culture.