Gezicht op Florence met gebouwen aan de Arno before 1871

This photograph, "View of Florence with Buildings on the Arno," was captured by Giacomo Brogi in the 19th century, a period marked by significant advancements in photographic techniques. Photography, at its core, is a craft deeply intertwined with the material properties of light-sensitive chemicals and the precision of mechanical devices. Brogi, as a skilled photographer, harnessed these materials and technologies to capture the essence of Florence. The albumen print, a popular method at the time, involves coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, creating a surface sensitive to light. The level of detail achievable through this process allowed Brogi to not only document the buildings along the Arno but also capture the textures of the city. The making of such photographs was tied to the rise of mass tourism. Brogi's studio produced these views as keepsakes for travelers and documents of a changing urban landscape. These images blur the lines between artistic expression and industrial production. By focusing on the tangible aspects of photography, we recognize it as a form of craft.