Vier leden van een Tibetaanse familie 1903 - 1906

Editor: This is a fascinating albumen print from between 1903 and 1906, taken by D.T. Dalton. It’s called "Four Members of a Tibetan Family." I am struck by how the material of the photograph, that slightly aged paper, contributes to a sense of historical distance. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Let’s consider the albumen print itself. The process required egg whites, a commodity. What does that tell us about the photographer's access, and perhaps even the family’s social standing, given the cost associated with this type of image-making at the time? We can think about how the availability and expense of the materials influenced who was represented and how. Editor: That’s interesting. So, it's not just the image, but the materials used to create it that speaks volumes. Curator: Precisely! The smooth surface achieved through the albumen process creates a formal, almost staged feel. Consider this in contrast to perhaps a more casual snapshot achievable today. What sort of cultural exchange do you imagine led to its making, considering this was created by a Western photographer depicting a Tibetan family? Where does the labour and resources needed for the photograph intersect? Editor: I hadn't considered the cultural dynamics embedded in the material choices. Now, seeing it as an albumen print definitely shifts my understanding from just the depicted image to the historical and cultural processes behind its creation. It seems like a much more collaborative and complicated cultural transaction than just one person documenting another. Curator: Exactly. And that complication is something the photograph holds within it because of the materiality and the labor involved. Thinking critically about the means of production provides the real story. Editor: That gives me a lot to consider about the choices that go into the work. Thank you!