Portret van een onbekende man, staande naast een fauteuil 1850 - 1865

This portrait of an unknown man standing beside an armchair was produced by N. Blanc et Cie. using photographic techniques. The sepia tones are characteristic of early photographic processes, where light-sensitive materials reacted to light exposure in the camera obscura. Photography, while seemingly automated, was deeply rooted in chemistry and optics, and the skills needed to manipulate these materials and control the final image. The resulting photograph offers a tangible representation of a moment in time. Its material presence, the sheen of the paper, and the tonal range achieved through chemical processes contribute to its aesthetic qualities. This image is representative of the intersection of craft and technology in the nineteenth century, where innovations in chemistry and optics were harnessed to create art. The photograph invites us to consider the labor, expertise, and technology involved in its creation, while challenging traditional boundaries between art, craft, and industry.