Start van de race Parijs-Amsterdam voor automobielen Possibly 1898

This photograph of the start of the Paris-Amsterdam automobile race was made by Delizy using the cyanotype process. This method, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, relies on the chemical reaction of iron salts exposed to ultraviolet light. It’s a relatively simple and inexpensive process, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Cyanotypes are recognizable by their distinctive Prussian blue color, though, as we can see here, the image can also be toned to sepia. The cyanotype was often used for technical drawings and botanical specimens, but it also became a medium for artistic expression. In this context, it's interesting to see how the cyanotype captured a moment of technological innovation. The automobile, a symbol of modernity and progress, is rendered through a craft-based, almost handmade process. This pairing invites us to consider the relationship between technology, labor, and the means of production.