Neue Elbbrücke te Hamburg 1876

This stereoscopic photograph of the Neue Elbbrücke in Hamburg was made by Sophus Williams in 1876. It’s an albumen print, a process that coats paper with egg white, yielding a smooth surface for crisp detail. Notice how the choice of materials influences our perception of the bridge. The cool tones and fine resolution give a sense of industrial precision. We can imagine the process involved in erecting the bridge itself: the collective labor of engineers and workers, the smelting of iron, the calculated assembly of parts. The bridge is not only captured but also evoked, in all its material presence. The photograph is itself an object of industry. It speaks of mass production through reproduction, the assembly-line logic that characterizes both photography and engineering. So while the albumen print is a far cry from the grit and heat of the factory floor, it is no less a testament to the age of iron and industry.