Gezicht op een drietal bomen before 1899

This photograph of three trees was taken by Franz Goerke, though we don’t know exactly when. What’s most interesting about it is the process used to create it. This image comes from a book about photography, so we can assume it was made using the gelatin silver process common at the time. Light-sensitive silver halides were applied to a gelatin base, then exposed to create a latent image. It was then developed, fixed, and washed to produce the final print. The gelatin silver process had a huge social impact, because it allowed for mass production and distribution of images. It democratized photography, making it more accessible to amateurs and professionals alike. Yet, the production of photographic materials also relied on factory labor and global trade networks, connecting the creation of this artwork to wider systems of labor, politics, and consumption. Ultimately, by understanding the materials, techniques, and social context of this photograph, we can appreciate its full significance as both a work of art and a historical artifact.