Bergpoort te Deventer c. 1875 - 1900

This albumen print was made by Johann Heinrich Martin Bosse in the late 19th century, and it captures the Bergpoort in Deventer. As a photographic process, the albumen print involves coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, making it sensitive to light. Bosse would have used a large format camera and glass plate negative, requiring a long exposure time. The resulting image, sepia-toned and finely detailed, speaks to the artist's mastery of the medium. In contrast to painting or sculpture, photography opened the door for greater access to image-making. It became a skilled trade for a growing professional class of artists. The final print is a testament to the labour involved, and is a powerful reminder of the social and technological forces that shaped the late 19th century. Appreciating the material and process allows us to see the photograph not just as a record, but as a cultural artifact in its own right.