Portret van een man met hoge hoed en wandelstok in de hand, staand voor een decor 1860 - 1900

This portrait of a man in a top hat, holding a cane, and posing in front of a decor was captured by Gush & Ferguson, using early photographic techniques. The image's sepia tones result from the chemical processes involved in early photography, a world away from today’s digital ease. This was a cutting-edge technology that democratized portraiture, and it also required specialized knowledge and labor. Notably, the sitter’s attire speaks to the rise of industrial manufacturing. His clothes would have been produced in factories by garment workers, reflecting the changing dynamics of labor and consumption. The backdrop against which the man poses is equally telling. Mass produced, this would have allowed the sitter to be transported into a romantic landscape, without ever leaving the studio. Considering the materials, processes, and social context of this image, it's clear that photography—like craft—has always been deeply intertwined with technology, labor, and the aspirations of everyday life.