Station van de kustwacht bij de World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 1893

This is a photograph by Charles Dudley Arnold, taken at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. The image is gelatin silver print, a process which involves coating a sheet of glass or plastic with a light-sensitive emulsion of gelatin and silver halides. The choice of this medium speaks volumes about the era. Photography had become industrialized, meaning it was more accessible, and could be widely distributed. Arnold uses this relatively new technology to document another symbol of industrial progress, the World's Fair. Notice how the image freezes a moment in time, capturing the clean lines of the architecture and the activity on the water. The gelatin silver print was a perfect tool to capture this. In its sharp focus and tonal range, this photograph offers a glimpse into a world transforming, reflecting a society caught between romanticism and the relentless march of industrialization.