Portret van een man met snor en baard, staand bij een stoel 1860 - 1900

This photographic portrait of a moustached and bearded man was made with paper and light by O.C. Smith. Photography, when it first emerged, was bound up with intense debates about labor and value. On the one hand, it was seen as a purely mechanical process, seemingly free of the artist's hand. But on the other, photographers emphasized the artistry of their work, retouching negatives and printing with great care. This tension is reflected in the finished object, with the way the light falls on the man's face, and in the sharp detailing of his clothes and the buttoned chair beside him. In this context, the photographer's skill lay in mastering a complex array of chemical and optical processes. And of course, in flattering the sitter, to produce a likeness that would be treasured for generations. So, the next time you look at an early photograph, consider all that went into its making, and the complex social dance between artist and subject.