Execution of the Conspirators 1865

Alexander Gardner made this albumen print of the "Execution of the Conspirators" using a wet collodion process, a photographic technique that demanded meticulous preparation and immediate development. A glass plate coated with light-sensitive chemicals captured the image, revealing the stark reality of the conspirators' execution. The sepia tones and soft focus inherent in the albumen print lend a surreal quality to the grim scene, highlighting the uncomfortable intersection of documentation and spectacle. Gardner’s decision to capture this event speaks volumes about photography's evolving role in shaping public memory and the narratives that societies construct around pivotal historical moments. By using the relatively new technology of photography, the image also underscores the mechanization of both death and its representation, framing it within the wider social issues of justice, retribution, and the industrial gaze.