Portret van Alexandre Dumas 1855 - 1865

This portrait of Alexandre Dumas was created by Charles Reutlinger, likely in Paris, using the popular photographic technique of the time. Photographs like this one represent a shift in portraiture, due to the new technology of photography, and the wider social issues of labor and consumption. The albumen print is made by coating paper with a layer of egg white and silver nitrate, making it sensitive to light. This process, while seemingly simple, required careful preparation and skilled execution. Photographers like Reutlinger ran studios with staff specializing in different aspects of the process, indicating a highly organized mode of production. The rise of photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a broader public than traditional painted portraits, capturing the likeness of figures like Dumas. Considering photography as a craft helps us recognize its historical significance, and its impact on how we see and understand the world.