Renan c. 1976

This photograph of Renan was created by Antoine Samuel Adam-Salomon in the 19th century using the wet collodion process. It’s a fascinating example of how chemistry and artistry meet. The wet collodion process required coating a glass plate with chemicals, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. The resulting glass negative was then used to make prints on paper. The final print has a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Consider the labor involved. Each photograph was a hands-on, time-sensitive operation, a far cry from today's point-and-shoot photography. The wet collodion process was also crucial in the democratizing of portraiture, allowing the rising middle class to have their likeness captured. Adam-Salomon, celebrated for his portraits of prominent figures, elevates photography to the level of fine art. By emphasizing the craft involved in photography, we recognize its place alongside more established art forms.