Gezicht op een rivier en de bossen aan de oever c. 1888 - 1893

This landscape by Impi Backman is a photograph, which means it was made with light, chemistry, and a fair bit of industrial infrastructure. The magic of photography lies in its seeming ability to capture reality, but that is always mediated by the photographer’s choices and the technologies they employ. Here, Backman has selected a view of water and forest that is characteristically picturesque. Yet the final print also depends on the availability of photographic paper, lenses, and developing agents – all products of a society rapidly industrializing. Photographs like this one were often circulated as postcards, connecting individuals through mass-produced imagery. This speaks to photography's democratizing potential, making art more accessible, but also its deep ties to labor, politics, and consumption. As you consider this image, think about how the materials and processes involved influence what we see and how we understand the world around us.