Portret van een man, aangeduid als L.A.W. Boerkamp 1864 - 1883

This small portrait of L.A.W. Boerkamp, was made by Leonard Stollenwerk, likely sometime in the late 19th century, using photographic methods. Photography, in its early days, was as much a craft as it was a science. The albumen print process, which this likely is, involved coating paper with egg white and then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. This required a deep knowledge of chemistry and careful manipulation of materials. The resulting sepia tones and soft focus were characteristic of the era, a far cry from the instant clarity of digital photography. Consider too, the social implications of this technology. Photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider segment of the population. Yet, the labor involved – from the photographer's expertise to the industrial production of photographic materials – reflects the complex interplay between art, labor, and technological advancement in the age of industrial capitalism. It reminds us that every image, even one as seemingly simple as this, carries within it a rich history of materials, making, and social context.