Groepsportret van leden van de Union Nationale de Photographie te Klaarmares 1896

This photograph of the Union Nationale de Photographie, taken by M. Rouchonnat, is a silver gelatin print, a process which dominated photography for over a century. The silver gelatin process involves coating paper with a light-sensitive emulsion of silver halide crystals in gelatin. After exposure, the print is developed, fixed, washed, and dried. The resulting image has a wide tonal range and fine detail, giving the photograph its distinctive appearance of subtle greys and crisp blacks. This photograph is also an interesting social document. As a group portrait, it speaks to the rise of photography as both a profession and a pastime, and as a medium for social networking. The Union Nationale de Photographie brought together enthusiasts and professionals alike, fostering a community around the shared interest in this relatively new technology. Looking closely at the material and the process of its making allows us to understand the photograph not only as an aesthetic object, but also as a product of its time, reflective of the cultural and social changes of the late 19th century.