Portrait of Ardeshir Mirza, uncle of the king 1840 - 1869

Luigi Pesce made this portrait of Ardeshir Mirza, uncle of the king, from paper, using the technology of photography. A skilled photographer would have been needed to manipulate chemistry and optics, crafting the image in a darkroom. The surface of the photograph has a distinctive warmth of tone, which emerged through the specific development process used. The way light interacts with the silver particles in the photographic emulsion, and the texture of the paper, both contribute to the overall effect. The photograph itself speaks to a wider shift in 19th-century society, towards a more democratic form of portraiture. Photography provided a new means of mass production, and a departure from the traditional, more exclusive medium of painting. No longer was portraiture reserved for the wealthy elite. This image demonstrates how technological advancements in image-making democratized representation and provided new avenues for capturing and circulating images of individuals from various social strata. This challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.