Gezicht op de Peter-de-Grotebron in Spa 1866 - 1870

This albumen print of the Peter-de-Grote fountain in Spa was made by Jules Hippolyte Quéval. It's a photographic technique that involves coating paper with a layer of egg white and then using it to hold light-sensitive chemicals. Albumen prints like this one were born of industrial progress, and made possible through the standardization and global distribution of materials like glass plates and photographic paper. These techniques democratized image production, allowing middle-class photographers to enter the field. The surface of the print is smooth and glossy, resulting from the egg white binder. The image is finely detailed, capturing the architecture of the fountain in a way that earlier photographic processes couldn't achieve. This level of detail speaks to the rise of consumer culture and the desire to capture and share images of the world. Quéval's choice of albumen reflects a shift toward mass production in the art world. It's a reminder that even in the realm of photography, materials, making, and context are essential to understanding the full meaning of an artwork.