Padang. Straat 1863 - 1869

This photographic print titled ‘Padang. Straat’ was made by Woodbury & Page. Looking at the image, we see how the photographic print captures the scene of a tree-lined street. The image's material qualities - its tonal range and crisp details - stem from the wet collodion process used to create the negative, and the subsequent printing on albumen paper. This process was very popular in the 19th century for its sharpness and reproducibility, it allowed photographers to make multiple copies of an image. The photograph invites us to think about its social context. As photography became more widespread, it played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of different places and cultures. This image of a street in Padang, likely intended for a Western audience, reflects the colonial gaze and the desire to document and categorize foreign lands. By considering the materials, making process, and social context of this photograph, we gain a richer understanding of its meaning, challenging the traditional distinction between photography as a documentary medium and as a form of artistic expression.