Kudde rendieren 1889

Curator: This is “Kudde rendieren,” a gelatin silver print photograph taken around 1889 by Paul Güssfeldt. Editor: There's something haunting about this. The almost monochromatic tones, the distant landscape… it feels like a memory fading away. What kind of process yields such a delicate image? Curator: Gelatin silver prints were a very common photographic process, appreciated for their fine detail and tonal range. This one is particularly interesting as Güssfeldt was primarily a geographer and explorer. Editor: So, the image is a record then. The way the reindeer are huddled, almost obscured…it emphasizes their dependency, and perhaps that of the indigenous people on the animal? Curator: Precisely. The photograph presents us with insights into arctic landscape, human-animal relationships, and cultural traditions. This form of image dissemination gained traction with the growth of colonial projects in Africa and other regions. Editor: Did the creation or the dissemination of the photographs contribute to that dynamic? What were the costs to Güssfeldt’s work being shared widely and what social effects did this create or impact at the time? Curator: The impact of visual culture from these kinds of practices and the role it plays in representing ethnic identity. This is often filtered through colonial politics. Editor: Fascinating how the physical act of image-making-- the specific alchemy of light, chemicals, and paper – intersects with broader power structures. And even just looking at it now, what it’s doing to us…it makes you think, right? Curator: Indeed, understanding this historical moment can reveal some about the visual consumption habits that still impact how cultural information is processed. Editor: A somber, yet telling photograph, rendered by a distinct process and reflective of intricate socio-cultural relationships that leave us questioning and speculating, even now. Curator: It provides a point of contemplation when looking at visual data today, too, for how they both influence and are influenced by social power.