Portret van Hilma Tengmark 1855 - 1890

Editor: Here we have a photograph titled "Portret van Hilma Tengmark," dating from 1855 to 1890. It's located here at the Rijksmuseum. The image itself is striking, the texture gives it a certain depth for such a simple portrait. What do you see in it? Curator: Immediately, I think about the materiality of this object. Consider the process – the chemical interaction required to fix this image, likely a silver-based process, on paper or metal. What social and economic structures allowed for this image to exist? Editor: You mean like, the cost of photography versus painting, and who could afford which? Curator: Exactly. And also the labour involved. Think about the preparation of the photographic materials, the posing and staging of the subject, the printing process, all unseen labor that went into producing this portrait. And beyond that, the circulation of these images. Where would something like this be displayed, who was supposed to view this and under what conditions? Editor: It does seem very intentional, not a snapshot. What about the collar, the jewelry... wouldn't that material information speak volumes about the sitter? Curator: Precisely. Look at the brooch, the earring - likely mass-produced trinkets reflecting wider industrial processes. The image flattens distinctions while relying upon mass production for legibility, offering up social mobility and taste. Even the albumen paper signifies something beyond simple documentation. What might these choices suggest? Editor: This makes me rethink how something so seemingly straightforward tells such a complicated story. Curator: Indeed. Considering this image through its materials and production opens it up to larger historical and social narratives, allowing us to move beyond simply aesthetic appreciation. Editor: This was extremely enlightening, I will be sure to ask further questions about the process in similar situations.