Four Generations 1858 - 1862

This photograph, titled "Four Generations," was captured by James Wallace Black, most likely in the 19th century, using the wet collodion process. A sheet of glass was coated with a light-sensitive emulsion, then exposed in a large format camera. The resulting image is characterized by a soft tonal range and remarkable detail, visible especially in the women’s dresses. The dark material speaks volumes about the era's fashion and social mores, conveying both status and constraint. The wet collodion process was labor intensive, demanding expertise in chemistry, optics, and darkroom practice. This made photography a skilled profession, accessible mostly to a middle class. Black's artistry, evident in the composition and lighting, elevated the medium beyond mere documentation and into the realm of fine art. The photograph is more than just a record of lineage, but an example of how technological processes can capture social identity.