Twee microscoopopname van cholera before 1885

This two-page spread, created by Émile van Ermengem, shows microscopic images of cholera bacteria. The book itself is a product of industrial processes: paper-making, printing, and binding, all of which rely on division of labor. But the real marvel here is photography. Van Ermengem used painstaking microscopic examination to reveal a hidden world. Note the variations in tone, form, and texture, a direct result of the light-sensitive chemistry used to capture these images. The process brings scientific precision to photography, a medium then still relatively young. Think about what it took to create this image: skilled technicians preparing slides, adjusting microscopes, and controlling the photographic process. This wasn't just about recording what was seen, but about actively constructing scientific knowledge. The labor of observation, combined with the reproducibility of print, democratized access to scientific insights. It reminds us that even the most "objective" images are the result of human effort.