[Headquarters of Captain H. B. Blood, Assistant Quartermaster at City Point, Virginia] 1861 - 1865

Andrew Joseph Russell made this albumen silver print, of Captain H. B. Blood's headquarters, using a process invented just a few decades before. The albumen, derived from egg whites, coats the paper and creates a smooth surface to hold the silver particles, resulting in a sharp image. Consider the amount of labor involved. From the raising of chickens to the skilled work of photographers, who were still part scientist, part artist. The wet-plate collodion process required the photographer to prepare, expose, and develop the image all within a short timeframe, making outdoor photography a logistical challenge. Each print was made individually, by hand. The photograph itself depicts the headquarters, the buildings, the tents and surrounding trees. It's more than just a scene; it’s an artifact reflecting both the technology of its time, and the vast amount of work that underpinned the war effort. Russell's photography pushes us to reconsider what we mean by art, and the making behind every image.