Untitled (young men and women at table at ball) 1962

This photograph by Robert Burian shows young men and women at a ball, and was made using gelatin silver print, a process that dominated photographic printing for over a century. The gelatin silver process is characterized by its fine detail and tonal range. This process involves coating paper with light-sensitive silver halides suspended in gelatin, exposing it to light, and then developing it to reveal the image. The inherent qualities of gelatin silver printing have imbued photography with a sense of authenticity, as the technology allowed for mass production, connecting it to issues of labor, politics, and consumption. The labor-intensive darkroom processes required to create gelatin silver prints stand in stark contrast to the ease of digital photography today. By using gelatin silver print, Burian aligned his art with a tradition rooted in material and making. He highlights the cultural significance of the photographic medium itself, while subtly challenging the traditional divide between fine art and craft.