Gezicht op de biechtstoel in de Sint-Pietersbasiliek in Vaticaanstad before 1898

This photograph captures the confession altar in Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. It’s a black and white image, likely a silver gelatin print, a process that was widely used for documentary purposes. Photographs like this one were part of a larger ecosystem of reproduction, and the print quality emphasizes the crisp architectural details. Note the elaborate carvings and sculptures, and how the photographic medium captures light and shadow. The Basilica itself is an amazing feat of engineering. Its construction involved a vast workforce and an elaborate division of labor. The photograph is an artwork but also a document of social and economic conditions, recording and participating in the cultural authority of its subject. Thinking about the making of this photograph helps us appreciate its historical significance, and also questions what we consider art, craft, and historical record.