Straatvegers, vermoedelijk in Pontoise

This photograph, likely taken in Pontoise, captures street sweepers at work. The process used to create it, while not visible, is crucial to its existence. It’s a salted paper print, a technique favored in the mid-19th century for its soft, matte finish. The tones in this image are inextricably linked to the chemistry involved in its creation, a direct result of the interaction between light, silver salts, and paper fibers. Salted paper prints were usually made through close contact between the negative and the printing paper under a light source, which imbues it with social significance of the era. What we see here are not just workers but also a social class, caught in a moment of their daily labor. This photograph underscores the value of understanding the materials and processes behind an image, revealing the inherent value of the laborers and the socio-historical context of its making.