Portret van een man met een snor 1863 - 1899

This portrait of a man with a moustache was created by Emma Kirchner at some point in the 19th century, using photographic processes. Photography in this era was a laborious process, involving the preparation and coating of glass plates with light-sensitive emulsions. Unlike today's digital photography, each image was a unique, tangible object, requiring significant skill and time to produce. The sepia tones give the photograph a warm, timeless quality, while also speaking to the specific chemical processes used in early photography. Consider the social context, with many working class families also wanting portraits taken. In this light, photography democratized portraiture. While traditional painted portraits were the preserve of the wealthy, photographic portraits made images of loved ones accessible to a broader range of society. The very act of posing for a photograph became a ritual, a way of preserving memory and identity. Understanding the materials and processes behind this image helps us see it not just as a representation, but as a product of labor, technology, and social change.