Gezicht op de aankomst van enkele paardenkarren over een brug before 1900

This printed photograph by H. Zimmermann shows horse-drawn carts crossing a bridge. Printed with ink on paper, the image depicts a moment in time, a snapshot of everyday life made possible through sophisticated technology and the labor involved in resource extraction. Consider the layers of work embedded in this image: the labor of the horses and drivers, the unseen workers involved in transporting the raw materials, and those who made the cameras and developed the film. Photography, often celebrated for its ability to democratize image-making, nonetheless relies on complex systems of production. The monochromatic tones of the print further emphasize the contrast between the apparent simplicity of the scene and the complex processes behind its creation. By acknowledging these material and social contexts, we gain a deeper understanding of the photograph's meaning, challenging the traditional hierarchy between fine art and the industrial processes that underpin it.