Gezicht op de oude haven van Carthago c. 1880 - 1900

This photograph, titled "Gezicht op de oude haven van Carthago," offers a view of the ancient harbor of Carthage, captured through the lens of someone known only as AM. The photograph is rooted in the specific chemistry of its production: silver halide crystals, exposed to light, then chemically developed to reveal this very scene. In the process of creating a photographic print, the artist engages with the interplay of light, shadow, and texture. The act of capturing a photograph is deeply intertwined with the social and economic context of its time. The photographer, as a skilled artisan, is reliant on complex production chains, and the market for images. The resulting photograph becomes not just a representation of a place, but also a record of the photographer's labor and the systems of production that made the image possible. So, as you consider this photograph, remember that its meaning lies not only in its subject matter, but also in the materials, processes, and social relations that brought it into being.