Gezicht op het transportgebouw, ontworpen door Louis Sullivan op de World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 1893

Charles Dudley Arnold made this photograph of Louis Sullivan's Transportation Building at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. The image is albumen silver print, which means it's made using a process that fixes the image using egg whites and silver salts. The process was common in the late 19th century, celebrated for its detail and tonal range. What's interesting is that it captures a building designed to celebrate industrial progress, using a method of production now firmly located in the past. This creates a poignant contrast, highlighting the relentless march of technology. The building itself, with its grand arches and ornate details, was intended to display the achievements of the Machine Age. However, Arnold's photographic method reminds us of the human element in production, the careful craftsmanship required to produce a single image. This tension between mass production and artisanal skill is at the heart of much artistic practice, even today.