Portret van een zittende man 1854 - 1875

This hand-colored photograph of a seated man was produced by the London School of Photography, using processes that transformed portraiture in the 19th century. Early photography, like the daguerreotype, was a unique image on metal. But with the advent of the collodion process, it became possible to print multiple photographs from a single glass negative. This opened the door to mass production and commercial studios like the London School. The addition of hand-applied color elevated the mass-produced image toward the status of fine art, while remaining accessible to a wider public than painted portraiture. Consider the labor involved: from the preparation of the photographic plate, to the subject’s pose, to the delicate application of color, each step reflects a skilled process. The photograph is small, designed to be held, collected, and shared. In its time, this image blurred the lines between art, craft, and industry, and it invites us to reconsider those categories today.