Portret van mevrouw Germaine voor abonnement tijdens de Provincietentoonstelling te Gent in 1899 1899

This albumen print photograph of Mrs. Germaine was created by B. Jacobs in Ghent, around 1899. The albumen process, popular in the late 19th century, involved coating paper with albumen from egg whites, then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. This resulted in a glossy surface that captured fine details, but it was also labor-intensive, requiring careful preparation and handling. The sepia tone we see here comes from the developing process, which used gold chloride to improve the image's stability and tonality. The photograph’s surface, once smooth, now shows the wear of time, with scratches and fading hinting at its material fragility. The decision to preserve and display this particular image elevates it beyond mere documentation. It reflects a conscious choice to value the labor, materials, and social context embedded in its creation, challenging the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft by recognizing the cultural significance of everyday practices like photography.