Gezicht op de Leidse Barrière in Amsterdam, met op de achtergrond de schouwburg 1860 - 1890

This albumen print, made by an anonymous artist, captures the Gezicht op de Leidse Barrière in Amsterdam. Albumen printing, popular in the 19th century, involved coating paper with egg white and then a silver solution, creating a surface sensitive to light. This particular photographic process was relatively cheap and provided a high-gloss finish, making it ideal for commercial applications like postcards and portraits, widely available for general consumption. Note the amount of detail captured, and also, consider what has been left out of the frame. It gives a composed, idyllic view, but this process of image-making also has a strong connection to labor, class, and consumption. The albumen itself, sourced from eggs, speaks to agricultural production, while the chemicals used in the developing process were products of the industrial revolution. The production of such images involved many hands, from the sourcing of materials to the final print. By recognizing the means of production, we expand traditional art history, and challenge distinctions between high art and craft.