Gezicht op een kruisgang met fresco's in Bressanone, Italië before 1891

Otto Schmidt captured this view of a frescoed cloister in Bressanone, Italy, using photography. Photography, like other forms of reproduction, has a complex relationship with labor. On one hand, it can democratize images, making them accessible to a wider audience. On the other hand, it relies on specialized tools and techniques. Think of the darkroom processes, the careful selection of lenses, and the subtle manipulation of light and shadow that contribute to the final image. Here, the cool tones and sharp focus of the image invite us to consider not only the cloister, but also the layers of skill and equipment needed to create the photograph itself. It makes you wonder about the choices the photographer made. What did he want us to see? What did he leave out? These questions remind us that all images, no matter how seemingly objective, are the product of human labor, and that both artistic expression and technical skill are a part of the process.