Portret van twee onbekende vrouwen 1884 - 1910

This photograph of two unknown women was taken by Adrianus Kok in Amsterdam, using a gelatin silver process. This was a popular method at the time, involving coating a glass or film base with light-sensitive silver halides suspended in gelatin. The gelatin silver process allowed for mass production of photographs. This method democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider segment of society beyond the elite. The tonal range captured is subtle, and the surface has a slight sheen characteristic of gelatin prints. The sepia tone would have been achieved through chemical treatment after the initial development. Kok's work, like much photography of the era, reflects the burgeoning industrialization of image-making. It moves away from unique, hand-crafted artworks toward reproducible commodities, impacting labor, artistic value, and the very nature of representation. Recognizing the material processes and context helps us understand photography's evolving role in society.