Fotoreproductie van Le Temple des Singes a Bénarès door Jean Baptiste Robie before 1885

This is a photographic reproduction of "Le Temple des Singes a Bénarès" by Jean Baptiste Robie, created by Alexandre, a photographer born in 1855. The image is modest in scale, but the process by which it was created speaks volumes. Early photography, like this example, was a chemical process as much as a visual one. The photographer carefully coated a surface with light-sensitive emulsion and exposed it to capture the image. This was skilled labor, requiring a deep understanding of materials and processes. The sepia tone, a characteristic of early photographic prints, is a direct result of the materials used. Consider the labor involved: from the photographer preparing the chemicals to the printing process, to the subject of the image. This photo is not just a picture; it’s a material record of a specific time, place, and the labor that went into its creation. Appreciating this aspect of the artwork allows us to see photography not just as a form of documentation, but also as a rich and complex craft.