Portret van een man met snor 1881 - 1903

This is a photographic portrait of a moustached man, made by Max Cosman sometime in the late 19th century. Photography, like many forms of image production, is entirely dependent on industrial means. From the mining of silver and other metals, to the production of glass, to the chemical processes involved in developing an image – it all relies on an international system of labor and extraction. Indeed, the popularization of photography was very much tied to the rise of capitalism. By the late 1800s, it was no longer just the province of the wealthy. Middle-class people could afford to have their picture taken, and so, preserve their likeness for posterity. This speaks to the democratizing potential of industrialization – as well as its inherent link to consumerism. Cosman’s image is a reminder that even the simplest photograph is the product of a complex web of social and economic relationships. By considering these material and historical aspects, we come to understand the photograph, not simply as an artistic achievement, but as a cultural artifact deeply embedded in its time.