Portret van een vrouw 1890 - 1910

This photographic portrait of a woman was made by Kameke, using the 19th-century technique of albumen print. This process involves coating paper with a layer of egg white and silver nitrate, making it light-sensitive. The slightly faded sepia tones and soft focus are typical of albumen prints, and are due to the interaction of light with the materials used. The photograph's texture, smooth yet subtly fibrous, further enhances its vintage aesthetic. The process required meticulous work, from preparing the paper to carefully controlling the exposure and developing the print. Although this technique helped democratize image-making, the labor and resources involved – from the photographer to the suppliers of chemicals and equipment – reflect the burgeoning industrial capitalism of the era. By appreciating the materiality and making of this photograph, we recognize how even seemingly straightforward images are shaped by a complex interplay of craft, technology, and social context.