Portret van Constant Willem Lunsingh Scheurleer 1910 - 1913

This is a portrait of Constant Willem Lunsingh Scheurleer, made by Ferdinand Robert Ebner. It is a relatively small work, only 83 by 56 millimeters in size. The photograph itself is a product of industrial chemistry, and the act of capturing the image would have required specialized equipment and expertise. As such, the image is very much a document of its time, reflecting the rise of a modern, industrialized world. The image is housed in a frame, the black surface of which is given texture. It imitates leather, and the gold trim adds to the sense of luxury. The frame would have been produced by skilled woodworkers, and other artisans involved in embellishment. The overall effect is one of careful composition and refined taste. Ultimately, the photograph and its frame remind us that even seemingly simple objects are the result of complex social and economic processes.