Portret van David Yellowlees before 1891

Editor: Here we have a portrait of David Yellowlees, an anonymous photograph taken before 1891. What strikes me is the stark contrast between the clear, dark image on the right and the almost ghostly one on the left page. What do you make of this work? Curator: From a materialist perspective, I'm interested in the conditions of photographic production at this time. This appears to be an albumen print within an album, likely a private commission or a commemorative volume. What can we learn about Yellowlees through the *act* of him being photographed and the material presentation of the image? Editor: I guess it says something about the social importance of portraiture at the time? Was it about showing status? Curator: Exactly! Think about the sitter's pose, his attire, the book he is leaning on, even the paper used for the print. These choices reflect a desire to project a certain image, constructing and circulating notions of professionalism, intellect, and perhaps even power. What labour was involved in producing and reproducing images such as these? How were photographic materials consumed in the late 19th Century, and what social hierarchies are embedded within these processes? Editor: It's interesting to think about photography as not just capturing a moment, but as a process loaded with social and economic implications. How that labour connects with how we receive the portrait, even today. Curator: Precisely! By considering the material conditions of its production, we gain insight into the cultural values embedded within this seemingly simple portrait. I also wonder if it might tell us something about changing understandings about mortality at the time, especially as the blurred copy is the negative. Editor: I will definitely be looking at photographs in a different light from now on! It's really more complex than I originally considered.