[Civil War View] 1860s

Thomas Roche made this photograph, probably during the American Civil War using the wet collodion process. This involved coating a glass plate with chemicals, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. The material qualities are striking. Look at the crisp details: the bricks, the window panes, even the texture of the unpaved road. But also notice the tonal range, from the deep shadows to the almost bleached-out sky. This is due to the light-sensitive chemicals used. This process democratized image-making, yet it demanded expertise and specialized equipment. Photographers like Roche were capturing the world around them, including the social landscape of a nation at war. This image is not just a document, it's a testament to a specific moment in the history of technology and visual culture. By understanding how it was made, we can better appreciate its power as a historical artifact, not just as an image.