Portret van James Russell Lowell before 1891

This is a photographic portrait of James Russell Lowell, made by Elliott and Fry. As a photographic print, this image embodies the industrialization of art in the 19th century. Photography transformed portraiture, once the domain of skilled painters, into a relatively democratized medium. While earlier photographic processes were painstaking, by the late 19th century, advancements in technology made it quicker, easier, and more accessible. Consider the labor involved: from the manufacture of cameras and chemicals, to the photographer's skill in capturing and developing the image, and the darkroom assistants in charge of producing the prints. Each element reflects a division of labor characteristic of industrial capitalism. Photography changed the way we perceive images. Appreciate the material and processes that underpin this portrait, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and other forms of image production.