Portret van Christina Nilsson 1860 - 1890

This is a photograph of Christina Nilsson made by an unknown photographer using the 19th-century technique called albumen print. The process involved coating paper with a layer of egg white and then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. The negative was then placed on top of the prepared paper and exposed to light, creating a positive image. It was a relatively inexpensive way to produce photographs. As a result, the albumen print was the dominant form of photographic print for commercial portraiture, like this example, and mass consumption. Looking at the photograph today, we can consider the labor involved in the process and the cultural value placed on portraiture during the 19th century. By focusing on the materials, making, and context, we gain a richer understanding of the artwork and its place in the history of both art and technology.