Verheven Porte in Istanboel 1888 - 1900

This photograph of the Verheven Porte in Istanbul was created by Sébah & Joaillier, using a process that was still quite novel at the time. The sepia tones are a direct result of the chemical process used to create these early photographic prints, a process that was as much craft as it was science. Think about the labor involved, not just in taking the picture, but in preparing the chemicals, coating the plates, and developing the image. Each print was a unique object, bearing the mark of the maker's hand. The photograph is not just a representation of a place; it is also an artifact of its own time, a testament to the rapidly changing world of the late 19th century. Photography democratized image-making, but it also created new forms of labor and consumption, feeding into the burgeoning tourist industry. The beauty of the image lies not only in its composition but also in the way it captures a specific moment in time, preserving it for posterity. It reminds us that every object, whether a photograph or a building, is the product of countless hands and countless hours of labor.