Albumin Photo Betsimisaraka Cemetery Burial Sites Madagascar Photographer Perrot Before 1895

This historical photograph shows a rare and culturally significant view of a traditional burial site of the Betsimisaraka in Madagascar taken as an original albumen print before 1895. Recent historical attributions by historian Claude Bavoux prove that this photograph originates from the well known photographer Edgard Perrot who documented the landscape and culture of the island during this era. The applied albumen process was the dominant photochemical technique of that era in which chicken egg white was used to bind the light sensitive silver salts to the paper which gave the photographs their characteristic warm sepia tone a soft glossy surface and high detail sharpness. In the photograph the characteristic stone burial sites and sacred sites of the region embedded in the dense tropical vegetation of the island are documented in detail.

This print was produced before 1895 in the era of early ethnographic documentary photography of Madagascar. From a historical perspective these original albumen photos are of high value as they visually preserve the untouched cultural structures and sacred sites before the profound influences of the 20th century precisely and serve as rare primary documents.

The historical collector's item is present as a loose sheet and measures 22 x 16.6 cm. The photo shows slight yellowing at the edges small and light creases at the edges and corners has a good age appropriate condition with light toning and shows no artificial image inscriptions or stampings. Signs of use corresponding to age.