Recovering the visual history of the Andrée expedition: a case study in photographic research.

Abstract: This case study is about difficulties encountered during research involving a collection of historical photographs. It reflects on problems that can face visual researchers when trying to access original sources in archives or collections. It further reflects on the confrontation of old and new technologies. These problems are often defined by a lack of knowledge of important technological developments and their possibilities. The case study further highlights the sometimes problematic status of visual material in archives and their sometimes ignored potential value as primary archival sources in research.