Charles Darwin 1868

This portrait of Charles Darwin was made by Julia Margaret Cameron in the late 19th century, using a photographic process called wet collodion. In this technique, a glass plate was coated with chemicals, exposed in the camera while still wet, and then developed. This process yielded incredibly detailed images, albeit with a soft, ethereal quality, evident in the delicate rendering of Darwin's beard and the diffuse lighting. Cameron's choice of this medium speaks to the transitional moment of photography. It was both a scientific marvel and an artistic pursuit, requiring immense skill and precision. Each print was unique, bearing the mark of the artist's hand in the preparation and development. This image reflects the labor-intensive nature of early photography, a far cry from today's instant snapshots, blurring the lines between technological innovation, the craft of image-making, and the cultural status of the sitter.