Portret van een man met snor in uniform 1867 - 1890

Athanase Calphas made this small portrait of a moustached man in uniform sometime between 1837 and 1915, using photography. This isn't painting or sculpture, but a chemical process, fixing an image on a treated surface. Think about what that meant then - photography democratized portraiture. Instead of only the wealthy being able to afford painted portraits, more people could now capture their likeness. This photograph isn't just an image; it’s also a record of a specific moment in time, preserved through light and chemistry. The material itself – the photographic paper and the chemicals used – influenced the final sepia tones and the texture of the print. Look closely, and you can see the subtle imperfections, the slight blurring, all testaments to the handmade quality of early photographic processes. Photography, like many crafts, has often been sidelined in discussions of 'high art'. But by considering the materials and the making, we can appreciate its significance in capturing history and culture.