Gezicht op de Izaäkkathedraal in Sint Petersburg met op voorgrond kermistenten 1850 - 1876

Alfred Lorens made this albumen print of Saint Petersburg’s Izaakkathedraal sometime in the late nineteenth century. Photography, like other reproductive technologies such as printing, opened up new possibilities for recording and disseminating images of the world. The albumen process, requiring careful preparation of glass plates with egg white, was laborious. Its popularity coincided with an era of industrial expansion and commercial exchange. Here, the photographer captures not only the monumental architecture of the cathedral, but also the commercial activity surrounding it, including what appear to be market stalls. The image's texture and tonal range, achieved through chemical processes, invite us to consider photography not just as a means of documentation but as a crafted object. The meticulous work involved in creating this photograph reflects a society in transition, balancing traditional craftsmanship with emerging technologies, capturing a moment in time amidst a rapidly changing urban landscape. It blurs the line between objective record and artistic interpretation.