Roosvenster boven de entree van de Sant'Agostino te Palermo, Italië 1851 - 1900

This photograph of the rose window above the entrance of the Sant'Agostino in Palermo, Italy, was captured by Giovanni Crupi. Crupi was working at a time when photography was a relatively new medium, still closely associated with the craft tradition. Think about the qualities of the photographic print itself: the way the light interacts with the treated paper, the subtle gradations of tone, and the incredible detail achieved through careful exposure and development. Crupi was not only an artist but also a master of the wet collodion process, which requires a high degree of technical skill and precise timing. In a society undergoing rapid industrialization, Crupi’s work represents a fascinating intersection of art, craft, and commerce. Through his lens, we see not only the architectural marvel of the rose window but also the evolving relationship between tradition and technology.