Boeren ploegen een akker before 1898

C.R. Pancoast made this photograph, “Boeren ploegen een akker”, and it was included in a printed book. As a mode of production, photography is fascinating. It is not only about the ‘click’ of a button, but also the darkroom processes, the mixing of chemicals, the development of light-sensitive materials, and the printing itself. Here, the monochromatic image is created via the traditional techniques of photography – with careful use of light and shadow. As an image, the photograph depicts a group of farmers using animals to plough a field. It captures a specific social and cultural context of rural life. It is an image of work, and manual labor. Through a focus on materials, making, and context, this artwork is more than just a photograph. It is a lens through which to examine the traditions, cultures, and modes of production in both art and everyday life.