Lake View, near Waymart, Del. & Hudson Canal Co. c. 1863 - 1865

Thomas H. Johnson made this albumen print, Lake View, near Waymart, Del. & Hudson Canal Co., sometime in the 1860s or 70s. The photograph would have been created by coating paper with a layer of egg white and then sensitized with a silver nitrate solution. After being exposed to light in a camera, the paper was developed and fixed to create a positive image. The resulting print has a warm brown tone and a smooth surface, quite different to what we’re used to from contemporary photography. What interests me here is how this seemingly straightforward landscape speaks to the industrial development of the area. The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, referenced in the title, was a key player in the transportation of coal from Pennsylvania to New York. The image would have been a way of documenting the industrial landscape and the progress of development in the area. By considering the materials and techniques used to create this photograph, we can better understand its historical and cultural significance. It’s a great example of how craft and industry can come together to shape our understanding of the world around us.