De Dom van Utrecht : eene voorlezing, met eenige aanteekeningen [met drie photographische afbeeldingen] 1861

This book, titled "De Dom van Utrecht," was produced in 1861 by Barthold Jacob Lintelo de Geer van Jutphaas, and printed by Kemink en Zoon in Utrecht. It is a fascinating synthesis of new and old technologies. Consider the materials: paper, ink, and photographic prints. Paper, a relatively democratic material by the mid-19th century, allowed for mass dissemination of information. The text, meticulously typeset, speaks to the industrialization of knowledge through print. What sets this book apart are the photographic images within. Photography, still a nascent technology at this time, was an expensive process requiring specialized skills and equipment. The combination of mass-produced text and handcrafted images creates a unique tension. It speaks to a desire to capture and share knowledge, embracing both the accessibility of print and the allure of photographic realism. This melding of craft and industry democratized art for the masses.