Gezicht op het Lugano-meer before 1903

This is Franz Goerke's 'View of Lake Lugano', an albumen print. The process starts with coating paper with egg white and salt, before being sensitized with silver nitrate. The paper is then exposed to light through a negative, before being developed and fixed. This traditional method is a study in contrasts, between the controlled conditions of the darkroom and the unpredictable nature of light itself. The tonal range here is subtle, with muted blacks and shimmering greys. It’s as though Goerke has harnessed the reflective quality of water, fixing it in chemical form. The albumen print was popular because of its glossy surface and sharp detail. In an era defined by rapid industrialization, photography offered a new way of seeing and representing the world. Though mass production was becoming the norm, each albumen print was unique. Considering both the artistry and the chemistry involved allows us to appreciate the skill involved in photography. The convergence of science and craft challenges our perception of art.