Fotoreproductie van een tekening van een onbekende man, aangeduid als H. D. Hamming 1884 - 1896

This is a photographic reproduction of a drawing by Friedrich Julius von Kolkow, depicting a man identified as H. D. Hamming. The photographic print is mounted on card stock, a common format in the late 19th century. The warm sepia tones are a direct result of the chemical processes involved in early photography, which were complex and labor intensive. Each print was a unique object, made using skilled craftsmanship. Though this image reproduces a drawing, it participates in the burgeoning culture of photographic portraiture, which democratized image-making by allowing for mass production of images and affordable access for a wider public. What's interesting here is that Von Kolkow made a business from photography. The inscription at the bottom of the card tells us that he had a studio in Groningen. This makes us think about photography as both a creative pursuit and a commercial activity, tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Looking at this print, we are reminded of the intense work it took to produce even a seemingly simple image.