Hofrat Raymond 1850s - 1860s

Franz Antoine captured Hofrat Raymond in a photograph, a process dependent on light-sensitive chemistry applied to a treated surface. Consider the material properties involved: the collodion process demanded meticulous preparation of glass plates coated with light-sensitive emulsion. This necessitated a portable darkroom, where the plates could be prepared moments before exposure. The sitter had to remain still during the lengthy exposure time. These factors influenced the photograph's very appearance: the soft focus, a consequence of the lens technology, and the muted tones, a result of the chemical development. The final print, mounted on card, became a precious object, a record of status and likeness in an era when portraiture was still relatively exclusive. Antoine's image is not just a record but a social document, reflecting new developments in photographic technology and the rise of a culture of portraiture in the 19th century. It reminds us that even the most apparently straightforward image is the product of material processes, labor, and social context.