Gezicht op een stadswijk aan de voet van de Galatatoren in Istanbul after 1890
photography, albumen-print
landscape
photography
orientalism
cityscape
albumen-print
Dimensions height 121 mm, width 174 mm, height 147 mm, width 187 mm
This albumen print captures a view of a district in Istanbul, at the foot of the Galata Tower. It was produced by Sébah & Joaillier, a photographic studio active in the late 19th century. Photography, then in its relative infancy, relied on a complex chemistry. The albumen process, in particular, required coating paper with egg whites to create a light-sensitive surface. The resulting images, like this one, have a distinctive sepia tone, a consequence of the materials used and the developing process. Beyond its aesthetic qualities, the photograph is also a record of labor and commerce. Studios like Sébah & Joaillier catered to a growing market for images of exotic locales, employing skilled technicians to produce these views. The photograph itself became a commodity, circulated and consumed within a globalizing world. Understanding the materials and processes behind this image is key to recognizing its complex relationship to labor, politics, and consumption.
Comments
No comments
Be the first to comment and join the conversation on the ultimate creative platform.