Charles Baudelaire 1855

This portrait of Charles Baudelaire was made by Felix Nadar using photography, a process dependent on the precise calibration of light and chemicals. Photography in the mid-19th century was far from the instantaneous process we know today. It involved complex chemical processes, skilled labor, and specialized equipment, placing it at the intersection of science, industry, and art. The choice of photography as a medium has social implications too. It democratized portraiture, previously exclusive to the wealthy, offering a wider range of society a means of representation. The sepia tone, a result of the developing process, lends the image a timeless quality, imbuing the sitter with an aura of historical significance. Considering the materials and making of this portrait challenges the traditional hierarchy of art. Photography, once seen as a purely mechanical process, is revealed as a craft, shaped by skill and social context, capable of capturing not just an image, but also a moment in cultural history.