Gezicht op Jeruzalem vanaf de Olijfberg 1859 - 1861

This stereoscopic image of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives was made by Francis Frith, using a photographic process that was still relatively new at the time. Consider how the image was captured: the photographer would have used a portable darkroom to prepare and develop the glass plate negatives on location. The collodion process required careful timing and technical skill. Then, these images were printed on albumen paper, a process involving coating paper with egg whites to create a glossy surface. This suggests a labour-intensive form of production, particularly given the challenging conditions of travel and work in the mid-19th century. Also, think about why this photograph was made. Frith was one of the first to create a company dedicated to large-scale production and distribution of photographs. In this context, this image stands as both documentation and commodity.