Portret van graaf D'Haubersart c. 1860 - 1865

This photograph, “Portret van graaf D’Haubersart,” was made by Sergei Lvovich Levitsky using the wet collodion process, a fairly new technique at the time. The process involves coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it in the camera while wet, and then developing it immediately. This labor-intensive, highly skilled work resulted in extremely sharp images. The sepia tone comes from the chemical development, lending a timeless quality to the count's stern visage. What's particularly striking is how this new technology democratized portraiture. While painting a portrait was a privilege of the elite, photography offered access to a broader segment of the population, including the upwardly mobile middle class. Levitsky, as a commercial photographer, played a crucial role in this shift. His skill and artistry elevated the craft, blurring the lines between commercial enterprise and fine art. So, next time you see an early photograph, think not just of the subject, but of the complex interplay of chemistry, skill, and social change that brought it into being.