Portret van drie onbekende mannen in uniform before 1905

Paul Pretsch made this black and white photograph of three unknown men in uniform sometime in the mid-19th century. I wonder what it was like for Pretsch, playing with these new technologies. Photography was in its early stages of development, like a new medium to explore, and there was a lot of experimentation and invention going on. The way the men are positioned, one behind the other, creates an interesting sense of depth. The lighting also adds to the overall mood, casting shadows that seem to conceal more than they reveal, with the uniform details and strong facial features creating this striking contrast. I imagine the men must have sat for a long time to have this portrait taken. Early photography like this reminds me of the early days of painting, when artists were just figuring things out, and I wonder what Pretsch might have thought of the work being made by other painters at the time. Artists always respond to each other, working to express ideas of representation.