Gezicht op schepen aan de kade langs de Boompjes in Rotterdam c. 1860 - 1900

Andries Jager created this albumen print of the Boompjes quay in Rotterdam sometime in the 19th century. Photography, even in its early days, was a chemical process intimately tied to industry. Light-sensitive emulsions of silver halide were applied to paper, then carefully exposed to reveal a scene. In this image, the architecture is crisp, but the sky is an undifferentiated wash of light. It is a testament to the specific chemistry used, and the conditions under which Jager was working. The tonal range and resolution is impressive, giving us a clear view of the ships docked in the harbor. Photography like this demanded a great deal of labor in the 1800s, from the manufacturing of supplies to the taking and development of the shot, and the dissemination of the image. So, consider this photograph a material witness, not just to a specific place and time, but to a set of industrial conditions.