Portret van een man met snor en hoed 1862 - 1863

This is a portrait of a man with a mustache and a hat, made with photography by Maes & Michaux. The photographic process is important here. It changed portraiture forever, offering a relatively affordable option for those who couldn't commission paintings, thereby democratizing representation. The very act of posing, the duration of exposure, and the subsequent development of the image were all part of a unique, almost alchemical process. The final print, with its sepia tones, is a direct result of these material and chemical transformations. The photograph’s texture, its weight, its physical presence, all speak to the labor and expertise involved, often obscured by the seeming ease of photographic reproduction. By understanding the material conditions and the process of its making, we gain insight into the social and cultural values embedded in this portrait, blurring the boundaries between art, craft, and industry.