Groepsportret van vijf onbekende kinderen c. 1880 - 1900

This is a photograph of five unknown children by A. Hoegg. The photographic process, especially in the past, was a fascinating intersection of science, craft, and commerce. Consider the material reality of this image. A light-sensitive emulsion, carefully applied to a rigid backing and exposed within the camera. The final print emerged through chemical development in a darkroom. Photography democratized portraiture, previously the domain of painting. Yet, even this supposedly objective medium involved skilled labor and specialized equipment. The photographer acted as a technician, an artist, and also something of an entrepreneur, offering a service to a public eager to capture and preserve their likenesses. Think about the amount of time and labor involved in taking a photograph back then. Every aspect from the photographic paper to the studio backdrop, and the darkroom chemicals all speaks to the socio-economic conditions of this particular time. By considering these material and social aspects, we get a richer understanding of this group portrait. The photograph invites us to look beyond just the surface of the image and recognize the world of work embedded within.