Gezicht op het stadhuis en de Pont d'Arcole in Parijs 1871

This is a photograph of the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, taken by P. Loubère. It's a small print, likely made using the albumen process, which was common at the time. The albumen print was an early and popular photographic process that used the albumen found in egg whites to bind the photographic chemicals to the paper. The process involved coating a sheet of paper with albumen, sensitizing it with silver nitrate, and then exposing it to light through a negative. The resulting image has a fine detail and a glossy surface. The photograph presents a specific view of Paris that has political implications, given the devastation of the site. The amount of work involved in producing this image is considerable: from preparing the photographic materials, taking the shot, and developing the print. This brings into focus questions about labor and class. The albumen print, with its unique qualities, occupies a vital place in the history of both photography and social record.