[Self-Portrait in Eastern Costume] 1851 - 1852

Charles Nègre made this self-portrait using photography, a relatively new medium, in the mid-19th century. The image’s sepia tones come from the interaction of light and chemicals on the paper’s surface, a distinctly different process than painting or sculpture. Photography was a process of both scientific precision and chance. In this period, it still required laborious darkroom work and the handling of dangerous materials. Nègre’s choice to portray himself in "eastern costume" adds another layer of complexity. The exoticized garb speaks to the period's fascination with the "Orient," and the way photography could capture and disseminate such images. This connects to wider issues of colonialism and cultural representation, and the consumption of imagery. Ultimately, this self-portrait prompts us to consider not just what is depicted, but also how the very act of making the image—through photographic chemistry and costuming—contributes to its meaning.