Portret van een vrouw 1873 - 1900

This portrait of a woman was made by Friedrich Julius von Kolkow, and it can be found in an album of calling cards, though the photographic print is made from albumen. In the mid-19th century, albumen prints were the standard for photographic reproduction. This technique involved coating paper with albumen, found in egg whites, and then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. When a negative was placed on the treated paper and exposed to light, a positive image gradually appeared. The albumen printing process, while capable of rendering exquisite detail, was labor-intensive. Preparing the paper, exposing the image, and then toning and fixing the print required skill. This speaks to the democratizing force of photography at this time, which nonetheless remained a very crafted medium. Ultimately, understanding the material processes and social context is key to appreciating the full significance of this beautiful, small portrait. It’s a reminder of the labor and artistry involved in even the most seemingly straightforward images.