Dr. Childs 1858 - 1869

This is Dr. Childs, captured in a photograph by Jeremiah Gurney, a prominent New York photographer. This small card image – an albumen print – was made using a process that was at once cutting-edge and highly laborious. The albumen paper, made with egg white, was coated with a silver nitrate solution, rendering it light-sensitive, and then exposed to a negative. This resulted in a finely detailed image. The tonal range and clarity speak to Gurney’s skill. Photography in this era was more than just pointing and shooting; it involved complex chemistry and careful manipulation. Consider the labor involved: from preparing the chemicals to the printing itself, to the work of portraiture, coaxing the subject to sit still and project the right image, to the darkroom work. Photography democratized image-making, yet the skilled work of photographers like Gurney highlights the blend of industrial progress and human craftsmanship. It calls into question our definitions of art, labor, and technology.