Ruïnes van de Keizerthermen te Trier 1882

This stereoscopic photograph of the Kaiserthermen in Trier was made in 1882 by Sophus Williams, using a process that was then at its peak of popularity. Photography, though reliant on scientific principles, bears many similarities to craft. Think of the darkroom as a workshop, and the array of chemicals and specialized equipment as the tools of the trade. In this image, the sharp clarity and tonal range are particularly striking. This was achieved through careful manipulation of the wet collodion process, a demanding technique that required coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals immediately before exposure. The resulting print is a testament to Williams' skill, but also a document of its time. The mass production of stereoscopic images was a booming industry, catering to a public eager to consume views of distant lands and historical sites. Yet, the human labor involved in every step – from the photographer's composition to the printer's darkroom work – reminds us that even in an age of mechanical reproduction, the hand remains present.