Harlingen; dok 1898 1898

This photoprint of Harlingen harbor was created in 1898 by Frits Freerks Fontein, working in the Netherlands. Fontein engaged with the relatively new medium of photography, skillfully manipulating chemistry and light. The sepia tone we see here is achieved through a chemical process, lending a warm, nostalgic quality to the image. But beyond its aesthetic appeal, photography in the late 19th century was deeply intertwined with social and economic shifts. The very act of capturing this scene—the bustling harbor, the industrial ships—speaks to the rise of maritime trade and technological progress. Consider the labor involved, not just in the operation of these vessels, but also in the production of the photographic materials themselves. Photography democratized image-making, yet it also relied on industrial processes and a globalized economy. Looking at this photoprint, we are prompted to think about the labor that went into both its making and its subject. It reminds us that all art is inextricably linked to the world of materials, labor, and social change.