Gezicht op de stad Monte-Carlo vanaf de kust c. 1886 - 1896

This photographic print, "View of the city of Monte-Carlo from the coast," was created by Henry Pauw van Wieldrecht. Photography in this period was a potent combination of chemistry and optics. This albumin silver print, would have begun with a glass plate negative, carefully coated with light-sensitive chemicals. The success of the final print depended on the photographer’s skill in timing and composition. The sharp detail and tonal range achieved here are a testament to his technical expertise. Beyond the technical skill, though, consider what the image depicts: a carefully composed view of Monte Carlo, a symbol of wealth and leisure, made accessible through technologies of mass production. The photograph itself becomes a commodity, reflecting and reinforcing the societal structures it portrays. Van Wieldrecht wasn't just capturing a scene; he was participating in a new way of seeing and consuming the world.