Kasteel van Sully-sur-Loire 1904

This albumen print showing the Château de Sully-sur-Loire was created by Delizy, though the exact date is unknown. The albumen print process, popular in the 19th century, involved coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, creating a light-sensitive surface to capture the photographic image. The appeal of albumen prints lies in their crisp detail and warm sepia tones, a consequence of the materials and development process used. The final print not only reflects the photographer's skill but also the inherent qualities of the albumen and silver. These qualities, alongside the labor-intensive process of coating and developing each print, add layers of meaning. What might this process tell us about the values of the 19th century? How do we square the aesthetic beauty of an albumen print with its connection to labor? Paying attention to the materials and techniques used, we gain a richer understanding of photography's place within a broader history of creative practices.