St. Peter's, Rome c. 1860s

Editor: Here we have Francis Frith’s photograph, "St. Peter's, Rome." It's a fascinating image, capturing the grandeur of the architecture, but I'm curious about its production. What can you tell me about the materials and processes involved in making it? Curator: Well, this is likely an albumen print, a process that dominated photographic printing in the mid-19th century. Think about the labor involved: coating paper with egg whites, sensitizing it with silver nitrate, exposing the negative, and then meticulously developing and toning the print. The materiality and the labor are key to its value as an object, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. It’s easy to forget the intensive work behind a single image. I hadn’t considered the significance of albumen printing in terms of labor and materials before. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Looking at the means of production is so relevant to understanding its cultural impact.