Untitled (girl with ringlets seen from back, standing in front of mirror) after 1940

This gelatin silver print, likely made in the mid-20th century, captures a girl in a frilly dress before a mirror. The processes involved in creating this photograph, from the careful posing to the darkroom development, reflect the values and aesthetics of mid-century portraiture. The gelatin silver process itself is fascinating. A light-sensitive emulsion of silver halides in gelatin is coated on a support, exposed to light, and then chemically developed. This creates the tonal range and detail we see here. The final print results from both the artist's vision, and the chemical interactions of the materials involved. Consider the context: portrait photography was becoming more accessible, but still retained an aura of formality. It served as a tool for social mobility, and aspiration. The amount of labor involved, from the photographer's skill to the material production of the print itself, underscores the value placed on these images. Understanding the materials and making of photographs like this allows us to appreciate them not just as representations, but also as artifacts of a specific time and culture.