Leeuwenhof met de Leeuwenfontein in het Alhambra c. 1860 - 1900

F. Linares made this photograph of the Court of the Lions in the Alhambra, using a process that was cutting-edge at the time. Photography was a relatively new medium then, sharply distinct from traditional artistic practices like painting or sculpture. Its dependence on chemistry and mechanics signaled a shift towards industrial modes of production. Linares skillfully captures the intricate details of the Alhambra's architecture. The play of light and shadow across the columns and carved surfaces emphasizes the texture and form of the original materials - stone, plaster, and wood. The photograph itself is a product of labor, from the mining of the chemicals used in the developing process to the skilled work of the photographer in composing and printing the image. It embodies a shift in artistic production, one that challenges our conventional understanding of fine art and craftsmanship, emphasizing the importance of technology, labor, and context in understanding visual culture.