Gezicht op Port Said 1870 - 1910

This albumen print, "Gezicht op Port Said," was created by C. & G. Zangaki. The process of creating an albumen print was quite complex. It begins with coating paper with egg white and then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. The negative is then placed on top, and exposed to sunlight. The image gradually appears, fixed and toned before being mounted. In this view of Port Said, the albumen process gives the scene a soft, sepia tone, which brings a sense of timelessness. The sharpness achieved with the photographic equipment captures the texture of buildings and streets, and the atmosphere of a bustling port city. The very act of making such a photograph – requiring specialized knowledge, a portable darkroom, and access to the latest technologies – speaks to a moment of intense colonial exchange. It challenges our conventional definitions of both 'art' and 'craft,' demanding that we consider the historical context of its production.