Portret van jonkheer Gerard Jacob Theodoor Beelaerts van Blokland c. 1865 - 1890

This is a portrait of Jonkheer Gerard Jacob Theodoor Beelaerts van Blokland, made by Bernardus Bruining at an unknown date using albumen print on cardboard. The albumen print, a process perfected in the mid-19th century, involves coating paper with egg white and then exposing it to light through a negative. The resulting image, with its soft gradations and sepia tones, was a far cry from the sharp, high-resolution photography we know today. Each print was a labor-intensive process, and the final product depended on the precise control of light, chemicals, and timing. The inherent qualities of albumen—its subtle sheen, its tendency to fade, its susceptibility to staining—give these photographs a particular poignancy. Think about the amount of work that went into making each print, as well as the labor involved in extracting albumen from eggs. These material considerations enrich our understanding of the image, taking it beyond a simple depiction of a man and placing it within a specific social and economic context. In doing so, we challenge the traditional hierarchy between art and craft, recognizing the artistry inherent in the making.