Portret van een man met baard 1867 - 1888

This portrait of a bearded man, by Johannes Wilhelmus Franciscus Offenberg, is made of photographic print mounted on card stock. This was a popular format in the late 19th century, as photography became more accessible. Think about the amount of labor involved in producing photographs like this. It wasn't just the photographer, of course. There were also those who made the equipment, prepared the chemicals, and processed the prints. Each of these steps required skill and precision. The material of the photograph itself is also significant. Paper treated with light-sensitive chemicals captures a moment in time. It's a far cry from painting, where the artist has much more control over the final image. Here, the subject and the technology play a greater role. Considering materials, making, and context allows us to understand the photograph, not just as a picture, but as an artifact of a particular time and place.