Portret van Michel Gayelman 1859 - 1862

This is a mounted portrait of Michel Gayelman, made with the photographic technique called ‘carte de visite’, by Petit & Trinquart. Let's think about the social context of the carte de visite. This format of photograph was extremely popular in the mid-19th century, particularly in Europe and North America. Its emergence was linked to the growth of commercial photography studios that made images accessible to the middle classes. The size and format facilitated the exchange of portraits among friends and family, and it became a popular way to collect images of celebrities. Think of it as a social media profile of its day! Consider the kind of institutional support needed for the carte de visite to develop. This included innovations in photographic techniques, investment in studios, and a consumer culture ready to embrace new forms of image-making. We can use census records, business directories, and photographic journals to reconstruct the social and institutional context for this portrait. This helps us understand its place in the visual culture of its time.