Portrait of the photographer Lochard 1877

Marcellin Desboutin created this drypoint etching of the photographer Lochard in France, sometime in the late 19th century. It raises interesting questions about the changing roles of artistic production in that period. Photography was becoming a more popular and accessible medium. The question was then posed, how would more traditional forms of portraiture, like etching, respond to this new form? Desboutin seems to be commenting on the idea of authorship. An etching such as this requires time and skill, unlike a photograph that can be captured in an instant. This image creates meaning through visual codes. The sitter has a serious expression which aligns with the aesthetics of photography at the time. The drypoint medium creates a softness which may allude to the painterly aesthetic which was still the dominant aspiration in art institutions at this time. To fully appreciate the image, it is important to understand the complex and shifting social and institutional context in which it was made. We must consider the relationship between the art world and the rise of the photographic industry.