Slot Babelsberg, Potsdam 1854 - 1879

This sepia-toned photograph, titled "Slot Babelsberg, Potsdam," was created by Hugo Lehmann. Looking at this image, the monochromatic tones and the texture of the print itself are so important. This wouldn't look the same as a high definition image on your phone, and that's because the photographic process in Lehmann's time was radically different. Photographs like this one were produced through a complex combination of chemical processes and technical skill. It was a craft, in its own right. The choice of photographic paper, the timing of the exposure, and the development process all contributed to the final image. Labor was involved, especially in producing consistent results, making each print unique, and tying the process inextricably to its time. By appreciating the material and the making, we understand it as a product of its time – quite unlike the way we snap and share images today.