Second Ave Rock Island, Ill. during high water 1888

This is Henry Bosse's "Second Ave Rock Island, Ill. during high water," made in 1888 using the cyanotype process. What is striking about this image is its deep Prussian blue color, a direct result of the iron salts used in the process. The cyanotype, also known as a blueprint, involves coating paper with a solution of iron compounds. When exposed to UV light, it turns blue after being washed and dried. Bosse, who was chief draftsman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, likely chose this technique for its practicality and low cost in reproducing technical drawings and topographical plans. However, Bosse elevates this utilitarian process to the realm of art, capturing a moment in time with a keen eye for composition. The high water, the architecture, the lone figure in the street – all rendered in this distinctive blue. Bosse not only documents a place, but also reveals the aesthetic potential inherent in industrial methods. This image challenges us to reconsider the boundaries between technical reproduction, artistic expression, and historical documentation.