Galerij bij Groot-Militair Hospitaal te Pauteh-Perah 1891 - 1894

A. Kaulfuss captured this photograph of the gallery at the Groot-Militair Hospitaal in Pauteh-Perah, using a process that was relatively new at the time. The albumen print, made from a glass negative, was a popular method for achieving finely detailed images like this one. Note the texture of the walkway, the intricate carpentry of the gallery roof, and even the foliage in the background. It is all rendered with remarkable clarity. This level of detail was achieved through a labor-intensive process, involving the careful coating and development of light-sensitive materials. It reminds us that photography, even in its early days, was not just a matter of pointing and shooting. It was a craft, one that demanded skill and patience. The image invites us to consider the amount of labor involved, both in the making of the photograph itself and the construction of the hospital gallery it depicts. It makes us aware of photography as a crucial element of colonial administration.