Honoune Keller 1864 - 1865

This photographic print of Honoune Keller was made by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri in the 19th century, using the ‘carte de visite’ technique. This process was a clever combination of chemistry and mechanics, and made Disdéri a very successful commercial photographer. Rather than one single image, a series of portrait views were captured on a single negative. The prints were then cut apart and mounted on cards. Photography was becoming more and more popular at this time, and Disdéri’s invention made it cheaper to produce, because more images could be captured on a single plate. The sitter, Honoune Keller, is presented four times on a single card, allowing for multiple poses and expressions, and giving the impression of movement. The mass production of photographs was a sign of the times, and the beginning of a new era of visual culture and consumption. It blurred the lines between art and commerce, and opened up photography to a wider audience.