Zeven gezichten op Baalbek, Libanon before 1898

Jules Calas made this photogravure titled 'Zeven gezichten op Baalbek, Libanon', sometime around 1897. Photogravure, a process prized for its ability to render continuous tones, begins with a copper plate, coated with a light-sensitive gelatin tissue. Think about this process: each image meticulously etched, then printed – a labor-intensive procedure far removed from today's point-and-shoot culture. The sepia tones speak of a bygone era, of expeditions to far-flung places and the slow, deliberate pace of image-making. The very act of creating such a print was a commitment, a mark of respect for the subject. Consider the viewpoint of the photographer, framing these ruins not just as relics of the past, but as documents for an era that valued craft and careful observation. These images are a record of the social context from which they came, inviting us to consider the amount of work involved in the production process.