Gezicht op de haven in Rotterdam 1858

Charles-Henri Plaut captured this view of the harbor in Rotterdam using a stereoscope, likely in the mid-19th century. Consider the labor embedded in this image: not just Plaut carefully preparing his photographic plates, but the shipbuilders, sailmakers, and dockworkers who animated this bustling port city. The photograph itself, a relatively new technology at the time, represents a shift in how images were made and consumed. Unlike a painting, which bore the mark of the artist's hand and skill, the photograph was produced through a chemical process. This allowed for a seemingly objective representation of the world, though of course, Plaut made choices about what to include in his frame. Note the careful composition and the inclusion of details that speak to Rotterdam's maritime economy. By focusing on the materials and processes that went into both the scene and the creation of the image, we can appreciate the social and economic context that shaped this artwork.