Battery A, Fourth U.S. Artillery, Robertson's Brigade 1864

James Gardner made this albumen print, titled "Battery A, Fourth U.S. Artillery, Robertson's Brigade," sometime during the American Civil War. The albumen process involved coating paper with egg white, then silver nitrate, making it light-sensitive. A negative was placed on the paper and exposed to sunlight, creating a detailed image. This method, popular in the 19th century, allowed for mass production of photographs. The image shows a vast encampment, complete with cannons and military personnel. The print's sepia tone results from the chemical reactions inherent in the albumen process. This aesthetic quality lends a sense of historical distance. Photography during the Civil War served as both documentation and propaganda. Images like this one were instrumental in shaping public opinion, but also speak to the industrialization of warfare. The mass production of images parallels the mass mobilization of troops and materials, underscoring the conflict’s deep connection to industrial capitalism. This challenges the traditional view of photography as purely artistic, highlighting its role in broader social and political contexts.