Gezicht op Mount Ouray en een trein in Trinidad in Colorado before 1883

This photograph, part of a bound album, shows a train in Trinidad, Colorado. The image is printed using a chemical process, likely albumen or collodion, which were common techniques for mass-producing photographs in the 19th century. These processes involve coating paper with light-sensitive chemicals and then exposing it to a negative. Consider the social context: railways were a symbol of progress and industrialization, and photography played a crucial role in documenting this expansion. The train itself represents a significant investment of labor and capital, from the mining of raw materials to the manufacturing of the engine and carriages. The photograph captures a moment in this history, showing not just the landscape, but also the infrastructure and technology that were reshaping the American West. It also hints at the labor involved in building and operating the railway, a workforce often composed of marginalized communities. Understanding the photograph involves recognizing these layers of material, process, and social context.