Gezicht op de Loggetta del Sansovino op het San Marcoplein in Venetië before 1898

This is a photograph of the Loggetta del Sansovino on the San Marco square in Venice, made by an anonymous artist. While we can't know precisely how it was produced, we can assume a set of steps: the camera obscura to focus the image, the glass plate negative, and finally, the print in front of us. Photography, like printmaking, depends on repeatable processes, which is quite different than painting or sculpture. This puts photography in line with the logic of the modern factory, where standardized production is the goal. Yet, it's easy to forget that this photograph is also the product of labor. Even though the artist is anonymous, the production of the image would involve a number of skilled technicians working together, and a complex division of labor. Understanding these social relations and the methods of production is key to understanding the image itself, rather than just focusing on the art historical subject matter.