Zeilschip Idalia No. 1 te water met op de achtergrond een heuvelachtig landschap c. 1880 - 1900

This photogravure of the sailing ship Idalia was made by James Adamson, using a process that blends photography with traditional printmaking. The photogravure technique starts with a photograph, which is then transferred onto a copper plate, etched, and finally printed. The nuanced tonal range achieved through the etching process lends the image a soft, almost painterly quality, a far cry from the sharp precision we often associate with photography. Photogravure was celebrated for its capacity to reproduce fine detail and continuous tones, enabling the mass production of high-quality photographic prints. However, each print was made by hand, one at a time, which involved labor, time, and craft. By emphasizing material, process, and social context, we move beyond the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, inviting a broader understanding of the image.