Portret van een onbekende man in uniform 1881 - 1886

This photograph was made by Alphonse Charles Dumesnil using the 19th-century technique of ‘carte de visite’, a calling card. But instead of merely bearing a name, it presents a portrait. The photograph’s sepia tones are a direct result of the chemical processes involved, including the use of silver salts to capture the image. This technique allowed for the mass production of images, a radical shift from painted portraiture, which had previously been available only to the wealthy. Photography democratized image-making, but it also created a new kind of labor. Consider the photographer, like Dumesnil, who would have needed not only technical skill, but also an understanding of composition, lighting, and posing. In the studio, the sitter would have to hold their position for a prolonged time, because of slow shutter speeds. This is a highly mediated image, even if it looks like a straightforward rendering of a man in uniform. Understanding the materials and processes behind this ‘carte de visite’ helps us recognize its broader cultural and social implications.