[Unknown Subject] 1860s

George Gardner Rockwood made this portrait using the Carte de Visite process, a popular method of photography in the mid-19th century. This photographic process was achieved by using a wet collodion negative, which created a very sharp image. The positive image was printed on albumen paper, made from egg whites. The Carte de Visite became a popular collectible item because it could be mass produced, thus, more accessible to the public. The inherent qualities of albumen paper allowed for fine details, lending itself well to portraiture. The labor-intensive process of coating paper with egg whites, sensitizing it with silver nitrate, and exposing it in a camera reflects a significant investment of time and skill, particularly given the scale of production. Photography changed the role of portraiture and image-making in society. By understanding photography’s industrial processes, labor and social context, we recognize that what we traditionally call "fine art" is deeply interwoven with craft, design, and materiality.