Standbeeld van Creugas van Epidamnus c. 1851 - 1900

This is a photograph of an antique statue, likely made in the late 19th century by an anonymous photographer. The process of creating photographic prints like this one involved labor, politics, and consumption. First, a glass negative was made, itself a painstaking process involving toxic chemicals and careful timing. From this negative, prints were made, each one requiring skill and attention. The photographer, though anonymous, would have been part of a growing industry of image-making, driven by the demands of art institutions and collectors eager to document classical sculpture. The act of photographing sculpture makes it more portable, and therefore available for wider distribution. Ultimately, this photograph challenges our traditional understanding of art. It is a carefully crafted object, made through a complex process, yet often overlooked in favor of the sculpture it depicts. By focusing on the photograph itself, we recognize the skilled labor and social context that shaped its creation.