Plein met rotonde met palmbomen en vijver in het midden en huizen eromheen c. 1880 - 1900

This photograph was taken by Étienne Neurdein, who lived in the 19th century. It's made using an albumen print, a process that involves coating paper with a layer of egg white and silver nitrate. This technique gave the image a warm, sepia tone, and a smooth surface, allowing for fine details. But the process was labor-intensive, requiring careful preparation of the materials, precise timing during exposure, and meticulous development. Each print was essentially handmade, reflecting the photographer’s skill and attention. Considering the context of its making, photography at this time was both a tool for documentation and a means of artistic expression. The rise of photography was tied to wider social and economic changes, including the growth of tourism and the expansion of colonial power. Photographers like Neurdein were documenting the world, but also shaping perceptions of it. So when we look at this image, we can appreciate it not just for what it shows, but also for how it was made, and what it tells us about the world in which it was created.