Man die op een paard in galop rijdt before 1889

This image of a man riding a galloping horse, is an anonymous photograph that was printed onto a page of a book. It’s small, just 136 by 97mm, and because of the printing process, the image is defined by subtle gradations of light and shadow. Think about how the photograph was likely made. First, a skilled photographer would have captured the image on a glass plate negative. Then, that negative would have been used to create a positive print, perhaps using a technique like albumen or silver gelatin printing. Finally, that print would have been mechanically reproduced for mass distribution in the book. Each of these steps would have required a different kind of labor and expertise. There's the physical labor of handling chemicals and equipment, the skilled labor of the photographer and printer, and the intellectual labor of composing the image and writing the accompanying text. All of this work is embedded in the final product. Paying attention to these processes helps us to appreciate the complex relationships between art, labor, and social class that are often hidden from view.