Portret van een man met ringbaard, zittend aan een schrijftafel 1854 - 1865

This portrait of a man with a ring beard, seated at a writing table, was made by Maull & Co using photographic techniques common in the 19th century. The photograph is small, likely an albumen print, a process that involves coating paper with egg white to create a smooth surface for the photographic emulsion. This would have been a relatively new technology at the time. The sharp detail of the man's clothing, desk, and the patterned carpet in the background, all made possible by this technology, give insight into the subject’s social status. The photograph’s materiality, from the paper it's printed on to the chemicals used to develop it, reflects the rise of industrial capitalism. It speaks to a shift in portraiture, making it more accessible to a wider audience beyond the wealthy elite. Photographs like these blur the lines between art, craft, and industry. They remind us that even in seemingly straightforward images, materials and making processes play a crucial role in shaping meaning and understanding.