Vijver met boten in het Parque del Buen Retiro in Madrid c. 1880 - 1890

This photograph of the Parque del Buen Retiro in Madrid was made by Juan Laurent using a process known as albumen printing. The light-sensitive chemicals are suspended in egg white. It was a popular method in the 19th century, valued for its sharp detail and the way it renders subtle tonal variations. To create an albumen print like this one, thin paper was floated on the prepared albumen solution, then exposed to light through a negative. The resulting image has a characteristic matte surface, with the depth of field offering an immersive view of the pond. Laurent made many photographs of Spain, and the way in which he employed his labour intensive method in the service of capturing tourist views speaks volumes about the commercialization of leisure in the late 1800s. The final print represents a moment frozen in time, yet also embodies the labour of its making and the burgeoning tourist industry. It reminds us that even the most seemingly straightforward images are layered with social, economic, and material histories.