Portret van een staande vrouw bij een stoel, aangeduid als G. Lerat 1860 - 1900

This portrait of a woman, identified as G. Lerat, was made by Andrieux using photographic methods typical of the time. Photography in this era was a blend of science and craft. The wet collodion process, likely used here, involved coating a glass plate with chemicals, exposing it in the camera, and then developing it immediately. It's a labor-intensive process demanding precision and speed, quite unlike the point-and-shoot ease we know today. The final print, carefully mounted, becomes a treasured object. The tones and textures captured in this photograph reflect not only the subject but also the materiality of the process itself. It is a material process that mirrors social shifts, linking the rise of photographic studios to broader social and economic changes. Ultimately, this image reminds us that even the most seemingly straightforward portrait is a product of complex interactions between materials, techniques, and social forces.