Twee personen voor de Duizendjarige den te Wolfheze 1850 - 1900

This photograph of two people before the Thousand-Year Pine at Wolfheze was created by Bernardus Bruining. The photograph’s sepia tones aren’t just aesthetic. They are a direct result of the nineteenth-century process. The photographer captured a latent image on a treated glass plate. This would be developed using a chemical solution containing silver. The image we see is created by the deposition of silver particles, permanently fixing the scene. The tonal range is a testament to the photographer’s skill in manipulating light and chemistry, creating depth and texture. This was a commercial process, but also a relatively new technology, and the resulting images were considered both scientific document and art object. The photograph’s material qualities encourage us to reflect on the labour, skill, and technological processes involved in its creation, and how these shaped its meaning and value. These considerations challenge traditional distinctions between art, craft, and industry.