Clarence H. White c. 1913

Alvin Langdon Coburn made this photograph of Clarence H. White using gelatin silver print, a popular photographic process in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This technique involves coating paper with a light-sensitive emulsion of gelatin and silver halides, then exposing it to light through a negative. This allows for a high level of detail and tonal range. The gelatin silver process was considered innovative, becoming a widespread industrial process, tied to a growing consumer culture, where the means of production were more accessible. Coburn’s choice of gelatin silver speaks to photography's relationship with both artistic expression and commercial viability. The surface quality of the print, with its delicate tonal gradations and sharp details, reflects Coburn’s mastery of the medium. It also challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft. It elevates photography to a form capable of nuanced expression. By emphasizing the process and materials, we gain a deeper appreciation.