Portret van een Indiase man 1870 - 1880

This photograph, “Portret van een Indiase man,” was produced by G.R. Lambert & Co. using the albumen print process, a popular method in the 19th century. The process involves coating paper with egg white and then using a glass negative to create the print. What's fascinating about albumen prints is how the material itself affects the final image. The egg white gives the photo a unique sheen and depth. The tones range from warm browns to sepia, and offer a great level of detail and clarity that captures the textures of the man’s clothing, turban and skin. More broadly, this photograph speaks volumes about colonialism. The use of photography by studios like Lambert & Co. allowed for the mass production and dissemination of images of colonized people, often reinforcing power dynamics. So, while this portrait might seem like a simple depiction, it’s important to remember the social context and labor involved in its creation, and the ways in which photography played a role in shaping perceptions of race and identity during that era.