Katoenspinners before 1862

This photograph, "Cotton-Spinning at Kofre, Ethiopia," was taken by Francis Frith sometime in the mid-19th century, using the wet collodion process. The image captures women engaged in the laborious task of cotton spinning. The starkness of the photograph highlights the material conditions of textile production in Ethiopia at the time. The process itself – a photographic print laid down on a page, within a bound book – speaks to the industrialized context in which the image was made, a world away from the hand-spun textiles shown. Frith’s photograph offers a glimpse into the division of labor and the social dynamics of the cotton industry. It prompts us to consider the relationship between raw materials, manual labor, and the burgeoning global market for textiles. It invites reflection on the complex interplay between artistry, industry, and the human experience.