Man doet een aanzoek aan een vrouw aan een tafel before 1882

This photograph, by Max Balde, dates from the late 19th century. It is a constructed scene, a tableau vivant, carefully posed to create a romantic narrative. Photographs like this one are particularly fascinating when considered as products of their time. The materials – glass plate negatives, silver gelatin prints – and the equipment required to produce them were products of industrial manufacture. So, even though this image seems far removed from the factory floor, it could not have existed without it. Also, we should consider the labor involved in the production of photographs. From the workers in the factories, to Balde himself and his assistants running the studio, to the four individuals that came together to pose, the making of this photograph entailed the work of many. Seen in this light, the image speaks to the intersection of culture, technology, and commerce that define the modern era.