Romeinse ruïne in Baalbek, Libanon 1867 - 1885

Félix Bonfils made this photograph of Roman ruins in Baalbek, Lebanon, using the albumen process, a popular photographic technique of the time. The albumen print, created using egg whites to bind the image to paper, results in a smooth surface and fine details, which you can see in the intricate carvings of the ruins. This process required careful preparation and skill, and the final print depended heavily on the photographer's ability to manage light and chemistry. Bonfils's choice of this medium speaks to the intersection of science and craft in the 19th century, a period where photography was both a means of documentation and artistic expression. Moreover, the act of photographing these ruins, packaging, and selling them speaks to the rise of tourism and the commodification of culture. The labor involved in producing these prints – from mixing chemicals to the printing process – often went unacknowledged. By focusing on process, we see how photography, like any other creative endeavor, is deeply embedded in social and economic contexts.