Portret van een onbekende man 1864 - 1877

This portrait of an unknown man was made by A. Delamare and A. Raguet, printed on a carte-de-visite, a small paper photograph that was incredibly popular in the mid-19th century. The key to its appeal was the mode of production: these weren't painted portraits for the elite, but images made through the burgeoning technology of commercial photography, which could be rapidly reproduced. To create these images, the sitter would pose in front of a camera, and their likeness was captured on a glass negative. This negative could then be used to print multiple copies of the photograph on paper coated with light-sensitive chemicals. The final print, often sepia-toned, was then glued to a card. The carte-de-visite democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a broader segment of society. These photographs offer a fascinating glimpse into the material culture of the 19th century, reminding us that even seemingly simple images are products of specific technologies, economic forces, and social desires.