Gezicht op het eiland Sainte-Marguerite bij Cannes 1863 - 1891

This photograph of Sainte-Marguerite, near Cannes, was made by Neurdein Frères using an albumen silver print. The process involves coating paper with a layer of egg white, then using it to capture an image from a negative. The albumen gives the print its distinctive gloss and sepia tone, qualities that were highly prized in the 19th century. But these are not neutral attributes. The shine speaks to the aspirations of the rising middle class, keen to display their taste and refinement. The choice of subject matter - a picturesque island - and the print's relatively small size, meant it could be easily collected and consumed. Consider the labor involved; from the photographers meticulously preparing the chemicals, to the workers mining silver for the photographic paper. The image embodies early tourism and leisure, yet it is also the result of immense material and human effort. Appreciating this helps us to expand our understanding of photography, from a purely aesthetic medium to one deeply embedded in social and economic practices.