Gezicht op de Dom van Messina 1860 - 1889

Roberto Rive made this albumen print of the Messina Cathedral sometime in the mid-19th century. Photography in this period involved a great deal of chemical expertise. To make this print, Rive would have coated paper with light-sensitive chemicals, exposed it using a large format camera, and then carefully developed the print in a darkroom. The sepia tones we see here are a result of the developing process. Prints like this were made as collectables for tourists. Photography allowed people to take images of far-off places and share them with others, increasing the appetite for experiencing new locales. We could consider this photograph as part of a larger trend of mass tourism and consumption of imagery that was emerging in the mid-19th century. The very act of creating it relied upon both skilled labor and an audience eager to possess such a memento. Paying attention to the materials and making of this artwork provides insight into its cultural and social significance, reminding us of the labor, travel, and consumption tied to its existence.