Cathédrale de Louviers, vue générale 1852 - 1854

Edmond Bacot made this photograph of the Cathédrale de Louviers using a process called 'calotype,' one of the earliest methods of photography. Consider the material of the print itself: paper coated with light-sensitive chemicals. The calotype process gave a softer image compared to other photographic techniques. It involved a paper negative, allowing for multiple prints, and each print carries the texture of the paper. Think about how the photograph captures the cathedral's elaborate facade. The stone itself was the result of extensive labor, quarried and carved by skilled artisans. The photograph collapses all of this work, representing it in a single image. Finally, remember the photographer's labor. Bacot carefully composed the shot, prepared his materials, and spent time in the darkroom. Photography democratized image-making. Yet, it also transformed the way we value skill and craftsmanship, a shift still relevant today.