Portret van Bertha Teixeira de Mattos-Mendes 1890 - 1905

This is a photographic portrait of Bertha Teixeira de Mattos-Mendes, made anonymously using chemical processes to capture light and shadow on treated paper. Photography, in its early days, was as much craft as science. Each image demanded expertise in mixing chemicals, controlling light, and manipulating the final print. Unlike painting or sculpture, photography was quickly embraced as a tool for documentation and portraiture, extending access beyond the elite. The subject's garments speak to the rise of industrial textile production, where intricate lace and tailored fabrics became increasingly available. Yet, the very act of commissioning a portrait – even a photograph – speaks to a certain level of social standing. It suggests a desire to participate in a visual culture that had previously been the preserve of the wealthy. Considering photography as a craft helps us appreciate its role in democratizing image-making. It blurred the lines between art and documentation, transforming both the way we see and record the world around us, and its people.