Portret van Charles Monselet before 1879

Curator: Before us, we have a portrait of Charles Monselet. It’s attributed to Etienne Carjat and we believe it was created before 1879. The medium is listed as albumen print. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: He looks… rather pleased with himself, doesn't he? A certain twinkle in his eye, comfortable in his finery. I am intrigued by the albumen print, too. Can you tell me a bit more about it? Curator: Well, albumen prints, such as this one, were very common then. The process involved coating paper with egg white – the albumen – and then using that to bind the photographic chemicals. It was a relatively inexpensive way to reproduce images. But look closely, you can observe a fine level of detail given this method, from the man's vest to the subtle treatment of shadow on his face. Editor: Interesting how accessible photography had become and I’m intrigued by the subject too. Charles Monselet: was he a figure of note? Was he important in Parisian society? The pose is so self-assured. What was his role, his influence? Curator: Indeed. Monselet was a well-known writer and bon vivant, known for his wit and culinary writing. Carjat himself was more than a photographer. He was a caricaturist and journalist as well, deeply involved in the Parisian cultural scene. They ran in similar social circles. The photographic process becomes intrinsically connected to these cultural networks of the era. Editor: Absolutely, seeing these connections deepens our understanding of the period. The mass-produced photographic images gave access, while the artistic circles were producing celebrity within them. I notice an illustration paired with the portrait on the opposite page: poetry printed below! The whole feels curated and considered, not unlike how we approach digital access to art today! Curator: That is perceptive of you to note. How different mediums interact and represent the celebrity of Charles Monselet does open further areas for discussion! This is what art is really about - expanding our own perspectives by engaging in dialogue with objects such as this. Editor: Indeed. And through the materials, and their context, we see an ever clearer image of how art reflects and shapes its world. Thank you.