Gezicht op Château Ferrière in Margaux, Frankrijk before 1867

Alfred Danflou captured this photograph of Château Ferrière in Margaux, France, using the wet collodion process. This technique, popular in the mid-19th century, involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals, then exposing and developing it while still wet. The resulting image, with its subtle tonal range and crisp detail, has a direct relationship to the era's industrial advancements, as well as emerging markets for picturesque views. Yet it's important to remember the labor involved in creating this image. From the preparation of the chemicals to the careful timing of the exposure, each step required skill and precision. And, like wine making, these were skills embedded in tradition. Ultimately, this photograph is not just a record of a place, but also an artifact of its time, shaped by the materials, processes, and social contexts in which it was made.