Naples, Piazza Vittoria, Winter Garden N ° 75 1870

Roberto Rive made this photograph, Naples, Piazza Vittoria, Winter Garden N ° 75, using the collodion process. It’s a technique invented in 1851, which allows for a very sharp image to be printed on glass. The process itself speaks volumes about the social context in which Rive was operating. Unlike a painter who might labor for months on a single canvas, Rive could create multiple images relatively quickly. This allowed for a new kind of visual economy to emerge, where photographs could be mass-produced and distributed as postcards or souvenirs. But don't let the ease of production fool you. The collodion process was far from simple, requiring a darkroom tent and a delicate manipulation of chemicals. In a way, the photograph itself is a testament to the skill and labor involved in its making, even if the final product appears effortlessly captured. The sepia tones, the sharp details, the frozen moment in time – all of these are the result of a complex interplay between science, technology, and artistic vision. This challenges the hierarchy of art and craft, inviting us to appreciate the artistry inherent in even the most seemingly straightforward images.