Portret van een man met vlinderstrik 1869 - 1890

Johannes Petrus Oppers made this photograph, “Portret van een man met vlinderstrik”, with a camera and darkroom. It is an albumen print, a process that involves coating paper with egg white to create a smooth surface for the photographic emulsion. This was a popular method in the 19th century because it produced sharp, detailed images. The process itself would have required patience and skill, demanding careful manipulation of chemicals and precise timing. What I find interesting is how this technique democratized portraiture. Before photography, only the wealthy could afford to have their likeness captured in a painting. But with the advent of photography, portraits became more accessible to a wider range of people. This particular portrait, with its focus on a man in formal attire, speaks to the rise of the middle class and their desire to participate in visual culture. The photograph stands as a testament to the changing social landscape of the time, where new technologies and creative practices intersected.