Darien Expedition 1871

John Moran made this albumen silver print, called Darien Expedition. The albumen process, a popular 19th-century technique, involved coating paper with egg white, then silver nitrate, making it light-sensitive. The print's sepia tone and soft focus are characteristic of this meticulous and labor-intensive method. Moran's choice of photography, still a relatively new technology, speaks to a desire to document the expedition with scientific precision, while also creating a visual record of the landscape. The density of the jungle is palpable, a testament to the challenges faced by those who traversed it. The final print is a direct result of the photographer’s, and the expedition team's labor in the field, transformed into a commodity for consumption and display. The image raises questions about the complex relationship between exploration, documentation, and the act of image-making itself. Ultimately, it invites us to consider the social and political context in which this photograph was created.