Portret van koning Leopold II van België before 1891

This photographic portrait of King Leopold II of Belgium was made by the London Stereoscopic Company. Photography, a relatively new medium at the time, involved complex chemical processes to capture and reproduce images. Consider how this technology democratized portraiture. Before photography, only the wealthy could afford to have their likeness captured in a painting, often commissioned at great expense. Photography, however, made images more accessible and mass-produced. The London Stereoscopic Company was a pioneer in this regard, producing and selling images on a vast scale. This portrait isn't just an image of a king; it's a product of industrial capitalism, where skilled technicians and factory workers collaborated to create and distribute photographs to a mass audience. Even the way Leopold II presents himself, in formal military dress, is carefully constructed for public consumption. So, as you look at this photograph, consider not only the sitter but also the complex social and economic forces that made its creation possible. It challenges our understanding of art and craft, revealing the intricate relationship between technology, labor, and representation.