Untitled 

This photograph was made by Anne Brigman, and though undated, it testifies to the early experimentation with the medium. Brigman was part of the Photo-Secession movement, which advocated for photography as a fine art. You see this sensibility in the image’s soft focus and ethereal quality. She often photographed nude figures in natural settings, as here. The process of making a photograph at this time was labor intensive, involving the preparation of glass plates with light-sensitive emulsions, careful exposure and development in the darkroom. It was through this meticulous process, that Brigman imbued her photographs with an artistic vision, challenging the idea that photography was purely a mechanical reproduction. The finished piece, with its ghostly tones, hints at the dedication it took to coax such an image from the raw materials. So, next time you encounter an early photograph, consider the handwork involved, and the artist's intention to elevate the medium beyond mere documentation.