Casino van Monte Carlo, gezien vanuit een park 1863 - 1891

This evocative photograph of the Casino van Monte Carlo was captured by Neurdein Frères. The image is printed on a light brown-colored paper support, using a process reliant on chemistry and light. The warm tones and soft focus give the scene an aura of timeless elegance. Photography, as a medium, democratized image-making, offering a relatively accessible way to capture and disseminate views of the world, even for commercial purposes. Consider the work involved in producing this image. From the harvesting of raw materials for photographic paper, to the labor of processing and printing, not to mention the work of maintaining the gardens and building the Casino itself, it speaks volumes about the social and economic context of its time. This photograph, like all objects, bears traces of the human effort that brought it into being. It prompts us to think about photography's role in shaping perceptions, and challenging established ideas about art.