Gezicht op een landbouwtentoonstelling in Middelburg 1862 - 1870

Jan Wendel Gerstenhauer Zimmerman made this photograph of an agricultural fair in Middelburg using the wet collodion process. This technique involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it in the camera, and then developing it immediately. The resulting image, printed on an albumen paper, captures a moment when industry was transforming agriculture. You can see various machines on display, like threshers and steam engines, showcasing the latest innovations. The photograph's muted tones and sharp details highlight the textures and forms of these machines. Each one represents a complex web of labor, resources, and technological know-how. What this fair presents, essentially, is a showroom of capital investment. This photograph offers a glimpse into a society grappling with progress, capturing the intersection of rural life and industrial advancement. It invites us to reflect on the intricate relationship between materials, manufacturing, and the ever-changing world.