Gezicht op de Sint-Antoniusbasiliek van Padua 1872 - 1876

This stereoscopic image of the Saint Anthony of Padua was produced by Jean Andrieu using albumen print, a technique developed in 1847. Albumen printing was the first commercially exploited method of producing a photographic print on paper from a negative. The process involves coating paper with albumen, the white of an egg, and then sensitizing it with a solution of silver nitrate. The paper is then exposed to light through a negative, creating a positive image. The resulting prints have a distinctive, slightly glossy surface and a warm tone. The albumen print process marks a significant shift toward mass production and commodification of images, fueled by advancements in chemistry and manufacturing. The rise of photography contributed to significant changes in labor practices and social norms of consumption, especially with the advent of technologies that captured and disseminated imagery widely, leading to new forms of visual culture. The details captured through this albumen print are a testament to the technology of the time.