Portret van een jonge man 1863 - 1903

This photographic portrait, by De Lavieter & Co., is an example of late 19th-century studio portraiture. The sepia tone is inherent to the early photographic process, where the chemicals used to develop the image also determined its color. What's interesting is how this image was produced: in a factory-like setting, where each portrait session would have been carefully choreographed. From posing the sitter to developing the final print, this highly specialized mode of production was a direct consequence of the rise of industrial capitalism. Each step required skilled labor, contributing to the final product's overall quality. The photograph's size and presentation, encased in a decorative cardboard frame, also speaks to the rise of mass-produced consumer culture, where even personal mementos could be readily acquired and displayed. By considering the materials, making process, and historical context of this photographic portrait, we can understand the image as both a unique work of art and a reflection of the social and economic forces that shaped its creation.