Rue Canebière in Marseille gezien richting Oude Haven c. 1870 - 1900

This photograph of Rue Canebière in Marseille was taken by Neurdein Frères. Though the exact date is unknown, it was made using a process that renders remarkable detail. Photographs like these are often viewed simply as documents, yet they are material objects, too. The tones and textures we see here are the product of chemical reactions, and of course the viewpoint of the photographer: their choice of composition and perspective. This image presents an expansive vista of a bustling street. It is crisscrossed by the traffic of horse-drawn carriages, the latest technology of the time, enabling the efficient movement of people and goods, indicative of rapid industrial growth and urban development. Consider the labor involved, too, in the manufacture of the camera, the preparation of the photographic plates, and the printing of the final image. All of these factors shaped the image we see, making it more than just a simple record of a street scene.