Gezicht op de Ortaköy-moskee in Istanboel 1854 - 1867

This is a photograph of the Ortaköy Mosque in Istanbul, made by Robertson and Beato sometime in the 19th century. Photography in this period was a laborious process, far removed from the instantaneity we know today. The photograph's sepia tones and sharp focus give a remarkable sense of depth and texture to the stone and metalwork, revealing an extraordinary level of detail. Think of the labor that went into every carved element of this architectural confection, and then consider that the photographers have framed this building as a kind of portrait. In a sense, they are collaborating with all the anonymous workers who made the building, freezing their efforts in time. Photography, in this instance, serves not just as documentation but as a monument to human labor and the skills involved in architecture, underlining the importance of materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.