Portret van Adrien Wagemakers 1859 - 1870

This photograph of Adrien Wagemakers was made by Eduard Fuchs, sometime after 1832. Small photographic portraits like this one were incredibly popular in Europe and the United States during the second half of the 19th century. Known as ‘carte de visite,’ these images functioned much like social media profile pics. The small size and relatively low cost of production meant that ordinary people could now participate in visual culture, creating a booming industry. The images were collected in albums and exchanged among friends and family. They also served to introduce the likenesses of celebrities and political figures into middle-class homes. To fully understand these images, we need to ask questions about how portraiture functions in society, who has access to it, and how these images are circulated. Understanding the social and institutional context of these images is crucial to understanding their appeal. Accessing the popular press of the period can provide insights into the reception and use of these images in their own time.