Portret van een staande vrouw met muts 1860 - 1900

Editor: Here we have "Portret van een staande vrouw met muts," a gelatin-silver print dating roughly from 1860 to 1900, created by Frederick Argall. It strikes me how the aging of the photographic paper adds to its presence. What aspects of this portrait do you find most compelling? Curator: From a materialist perspective, it's crucial to consider the implications of a gelatin-silver print in this period. The rise of photography transformed image production. The relative ease and affordability of the gelatin-silver process meant that portraiture was no longer solely the domain of the wealthy who could afford painted portraits. This democratisation of image-making had profound implications. Editor: So, are you suggesting the photograph provided accessibility, allowing more individuals to possess their likeness represented through manufactured goods? Curator: Precisely. Consider also the labor involved – the photographer, the assistants in the darkroom, the individuals involved in manufacturing the photographic materials. The rise of photographic studios also reflects the growing industrialization and commercialization of art production, and the development of new production models based on division of labour. We have to ask ourselves: what does it mean when creating images shifts from artisanal craft to industrial commodity? How does that affect the status and the value of the photograph? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t really considered it in terms of labor and materials before. Curator: Furthermore, think about the consumption of these images. They were often displayed in albums, shared with family and friends. What sort of social connections and structures did this new technology enable and reinforce? Did they disrupt the role of painting, of manual skill? The clothing worn by the subject provides insight into Victorian fashion and social expectations. Consider it as material culture! Editor: So much to consider. Looking at it now, I can't help but see the social shifts embedded within this seemingly simple image. Curator: Absolutely. By focusing on the materiality and production of the gelatin-silver print, we gain a much richer understanding of its historical and social context. Editor: I agree. It shifts from being "just a picture" into a product of societal and industrial progression.