Portret van een man, staand bij een zuil met boek 1860 - 1890

This photograph, titled ‘Portret van een man, staand bij een zuil met boek’, was made by Juan Martí. It depicts a man standing by a pillar with a book. Photography in the 19th century was a painstaking process. Each photograph was the result of chemical processes involving the use of light-sensitive materials to capture and fix an image onto a surface. The sepia tones you see were achieved through a technique of processing the print, highlighting the inherent qualities of the materials used, particularly the chemicals. The pillar and book alongside the gentleman’s dark jacket and light shirt combine to present an image of sophistication. The very act of posing for a photograph was imbued with social significance. It reflected a desire for documentation, commemoration, and perhaps even self-promotion. The amount of work involved, from setting up the shot to developing the print, made each photograph a unique artifact, blurring the lines between technology, labor, and art. The careful construction of the scene invites us to consider photography not just as a craft, but as a powerful medium that captured the aspirations and values of its time.