[Doorway of Predikheevenkerk, Gent, Belgium] 1856 - 1860

This photograph of the Doorway of Predikheevenkerk in Gent, Belgium, was taken by Charles D’Hoy, likely using the wet collodion process common in the 19th century. The process itself involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. This method was favored for its relatively short exposure times and sharp images, but it demanded considerable skill and speed. The resulting sepia tone and the soft focus contribute to the image's sense of historical distance. It invites us to consider the social context of labor and urban life, as evidenced by the remnants of posters pasted to the stone walls. Photography, in its early days, democratized image-making, while simultaneously offering opportunities for artistic expression, creating new possibilities for understanding our world.