Gezicht op de maan met rechts van het midden de Eratosthenes before 1887

This photograph of the moon, including the Eratosthenes crater, was made by the Henry Frères sometime in the late 19th century. The image-making process, astronomical photography, was cutting-edge at the time. Consider how unusual it was to see the moon with such clarity, a feat enabled by new lens-grinding and darkroom techniques. These advancements relied on skilled labor and precise instruments, reflecting broader industrial progress. This image is more than just a scientific record; it embodies human ingenuity and the ambition to capture the cosmos. While seemingly distant from everyday concerns, the photograph connects to wider social issues of labor, technology, and the pursuit of knowledge. It challenges us to consider how even the most specialized crafts are embedded in the fabric of society.