Principal Source of the Jordan, Flowing From a Cave Near Banias, Near the Site of the Northern City of Dan, the Frontier Town of Israel

Francis Frith (British, Chesterfield, Derbyshire 1822–1898 Cannes, France)

The albumen silver print is a photographic printing process that was widely used in the 19th century. It involves coating paper support with a mixture of egg whites and salt, which creates a glossy surface to hold light-sensitive silver salts. The paper is then sensitized in a solution of silver nitrate, and exposed in a camera or under a negative. After exposure, the print is developed in a solution of gallic acid and silver nitrate, which reduces the silver salts to metallic silver and creates the final image. The albumen print process was widely used for commercial and fine art photography in the 19th century and produced high-quality, detailed images with a distinctive glossy finish.

francis frith albumen silver prints principal source principal source jordan cave banias site northern city northern city dan frontier town frontier town israel history of israel prints 19th century high resolution ultra high resolution albumen prints early photography metropolitan museum of art derbyshire united kingdom

1857

Metropolitan Museum of Art

http://www.metmuseum.org/

Public Domain Dedication (CC0)