Binnen Amstel gezien in noordelijke richting met rechts molen De Eendracht en in het midden de Amstelsluizen before 1876

This albumen print shows the Binnen Amstel in Amsterdam, as seen by Andries Jager. Photography in the 19th century was an intricate combination of science and craft. The albumen print process, popular at the time, involved coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, making it sensitive to light. The negative was then placed on the prepared paper and exposed to sunlight, after which the print was washed and toned. The resulting image offers a glimpse into 19th-century Amsterdam. The sharp details, from the brickwork of the buildings to the rigging of the ships, reveal a wealth of manual skills. The image isn't just a picture; it's a record of chemical reactions and traditional techniques. It serves as a testament to the labor-intensive processes that preceded our age of instant digital imagery, and reminds us of the intimate relationship between artistry, labor, and material.