Portret van een onbekende man met snor en baard, aangeduid als F. Chur, vrijmetselaar 1865

This is a photograph of an unknown man with a mustache and beard, possibly F. Chur, a Freemason, and it was created by an anonymous artist. This portrait is an example of the carte-de-visite, a small photograph mounted on card stock that was extremely popular in the mid-19th century. This format democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a broader public beyond the elite who could afford painted portraits. The process involved using a special camera to produce multiple images on a single plate, a clever labor-saving technique. The thinness and lightness of the card made it easy to trade and collect. The carte-de-visite reflects the rise of industrial capitalism and consumer culture, where photography became a commodity and images could be circulated widely. It also hints at the changing social fabric of the time. While the sitter’s identity is unknown, the photograph itself speaks volumes about the democratization of image-making and its connection to broader social and economic changes. Ultimately, understanding the photograph as a material object helps us see its wider historical context and cultural significance.