Exterieur van het Winterpaleis in Sint-Petersburg c. 1880 - 1900

This photograph of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, was created by J. Daziaro, using a photographic printing process. The sepia tone and texture are not just aesthetic choices, but inherent to the materials and chemistry used in early photography. The process involved coating a surface with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it to light through a lens, and then developing the image through a series of chemical baths. Think about the labor involved: from the production of the photographic materials, to the photographer's skilled manipulation of the camera and chemicals. Each print required meticulous handwork, making it a unique object. The resulting image documents not only the grandeur of the palace, but also the rise of photography as a powerful tool for documenting and shaping perceptions of the world. It is a testament to human ingenuity, capturing a moment in time through a complex interplay of science, craft, and artistry. We might consider photography as a craft, not separate from art.