Portret van kardinaal Rampolla before 1891

Curator: Before us, we have a gelatin-silver print from before 1891. It’s a portrait by Giuseppe Felici titled "Portret van kardinaal Rampolla". The texture itself holds the light beautifully. What stands out to you initially? Editor: Immediately, the subject's gaze is striking—serious, piercing. There's a real weight conveyed here, the photographic techniques emphasize class and power relations within the Catholic church and the elite, during a time of shifting social structures in Europe. Curator: Indeed. It's fascinating to consider this gelatin-silver process at play. This print isn't just about capturing an image; it's about meticulously constructing an image through specific materials and a laboured technique. The gelatin acts as a binder, an emulsion to create the detail. We see the intersection of chemistry and craftsmanship—a collaboration in a sense between human labor, industry and the elements that created it. Editor: Absolutely. Thinking about that meticulousness, the labour required of the photographer mirrors the subject, who in the political climate embodies hierarchies and patriarchal institutions. Look at how Rampolla is staged – it’s not just capturing likeness, it is about legitimizing control in his era. This representation perpetuates a narrative that’s not impartial but constructed around notions of male dominance and divine legitimacy. Curator: We should think, too, of the material conditions under which these prints were made, who had access to photography at this time, who the processes involved and the power dynamics at play. Each photographic choice underscores specific perspectives, further reinforcing societal power structures in production itself. Editor: Exactly, photography doesn't merely reflect; it participates in meaning creation, contributing to ongoing debates about class, faith, gender, race, and identity during historical moments. The image doesn't just depict; it embodies how visibility itself is politically regulated through technology, during an era of unprecedented imperialism. Curator: In this gelatin-silver print we observe a powerful convergence—labor and materiality merging with social structures in creating meaning, influencing our perceptions. Editor: Examining such representations can inspire critical discussion on topics such as visual representation, social accountability, the impact on identities and community participation in shaping social progress during the epoch this picture represents.