Hond en kat before 1894

Hendrik Herman van den Berg took this photograph, known as "Hond en kat", or "Dog and Cat", using the gelatin silver process, a technique that dominated photographic printing for over a century. With its monochrome surface, this photographic print renders a timeless quality, where light and shadow define the scene. The choice of this printing process allows for a wide tonal range, capturing the textures of the dog's coat and the cat's fur. This is no ordinary snapshot. It is part of a moment, carefully composed by Van den Berg. The gelatin silver process, with its reliance on industrial production of materials, democratized photography, enabling both amateur and professional artists to explore the medium. This method is tied to wider social issues of labor and politics, reflecting a shift from handcrafted artistic practices to those enabled by technological advances. By focusing on the materials and making of this artwork, we understand its significance in challenging traditional distinctions between photography and craft, offering a glimpse into the intersection of art, technology, and everyday life.