Groep mensen zittend op rotsen met parasols 1878 - 1890

This photograph, 'Groep mensen zittend op rotsen met parasols,' was produced by Constant & A. Lory Peigné. It's an albumen print, a process invented in 1847, which renders the image from an emulsion of egg white. The result is a glossy surface that gives the photograph a distinctive richness and depth, evident in the tonal variations of the rock formations. The albumen print process was laborious, demanding skill and precision in coating the paper, exposing the print, and then developing it. The presence of parasols suggests a leisure context, hinting at the emergence of photography as a medium associated with tourism and the middle class. The photograph is an object of material culture, capturing a moment in social history. Understanding the material and techniques used gives us more insight into the cultural context in which it was made, questioning the boundaries between photography as a commercial enterprise and as a form of artistic expression.