Le Pantheon c. 1855 - 1870

Editor: Here we have Charles Soulier's "Le Pantheon," a photograph from the 1800s. The scale of the building is impressive, but I wonder about the process of capturing such a detailed image back then. What can you tell me about its creation? Curator: Consider the labor involved in 19th-century photography. Each print demanded meticulous preparation of materials, from coating the glass plate negative with chemicals to precisely controlling the exposure time. How does this handmade quality influence your perception of the final image, compared to today's digital photography? Editor: I never considered that. It’s quite different knowing the amount of work involved. Thanks for pointing it out! Curator: My pleasure. Thinking about the means of production can really open our eyes.