Samenkomst van mensen in Fribourg, vermoedelijk ter herdenking van de sterfdag van Petrus Canisius in 1597 1897

Prosper Macherel made this gelatin silver print, picturing a gathering in Fribourg. Though photographs are often seen as straightforward documents, they were once highly crafted objects. The gelatin silver process, dominant in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, involved coating paper with light-sensitive silver halides. The resulting print possesses a distinctive tonal range, influenced by the specific chemical formulas, and the darkroom practices employed. Consider the photographer as a skilled artisan, manipulating materials to achieve a desired effect. Macherel carefully selected his vantage point, framing the crowd to emphasize its scale and the solemnity of the occasion. The sharp focus and subtle gradations of light and shadow contribute to the photograph's sense of depth and realism. Photography democratized image-making, yet the technical expertise and artistry involved should not be overlooked. By examining the materials and processes behind this photograph, we gain a deeper understanding of its cultural significance and the labor involved in its creation.