Galerij in de Galleria degli Uffizi te Florence, Italië 1857 - 1900

This photograph of the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence, Italy, was made by Fratelli Alinari, sometime in the late 19th century. Its sepia tones are the result of a chemical process, a collotype print, which allows for the reproduction of an image using a light-sensitive emulsion. Photography, though often considered a documentary medium, is also a craft. The photographer carefully considers the composition, light, and development process. Here, the Alinari brothers have created a mesmerizing perspective. The repetitive architecture of the Uffizi is emphasized through linear perspective. The statues and paintings lining the walls seem to march into infinity. Photographs like this one helped disseminate images widely, creating a visual culture that shaped perceptions of art and architecture for a broad audience. Though it appears to simply record the Uffizi, this photograph is a designed object, reflecting both artistic intention and a sophisticated industrial process. By considering the making of this image, we understand how photography, like other crafts, mediates our experience of the world.