Ruins in Columbia, S.C., No. 2 1865

This photograph of war-torn South Carolina was taken by George N. Barnard, using the wet collodion process to produce a stark, evocative image. This early photographic technique required meticulous preparation. A glass plate would be coated with a light-sensitive emulsion immediately before exposure, and then developed quickly. The materiality here is key. The photograph's gray tones emphasize the texture of the ruined brickwork. These bricks were once carefully laid by hand, but here they are scattered. The image speaks volumes about labor, both in the building's construction and its destruction. Barnard's photographs are not just records; they are also powerful statements about the effects of conflict and the fragility of human endeavor. By focusing on the tangible evidence of devastation, the image transcends the usual narratives of war, reminding us of its profound impact on the built environment.