Portret van een man, mogelijk een zelfportret van Louis-Rémy Robert 1852 - 1854

This photograph, possibly a self-portrait, was made by Louis-Rémy Robert sometime in the mid-19th century. It's an albumen print, meaning that the image is formed on paper coated with egg white and silver salts. The process itself is fascinating, and deeply rooted in chemistry. The albumen creates a smooth surface, allowing for a high level of detail and a wide tonal range, evident in the man’s sharply defined features and the subtle gradations of light and shadow. But it's also a labor-intensive procedure, demanding careful preparation and handling of the materials. The rise of photography in the 19th century, with its reliance on chemistry, skilled darkroom practice, and also on the industrial production of materials like paper and silver, changed our very understanding of art-making. It introduced reproducibility and objectivity to the portrait, impacting painting and other disciplines. By engaging with this new medium, Robert challenged established hierarchies between art and technology, craftsmanship and industrialization.