Portret van een man 1850 - 1880

Godfried de Jong made this small portrait of a man, using photographic techniques that were becoming increasingly common in the 19th century. The image is captured through a chemical process onto a metallic plate or coated glass. This was an exciting departure from painted portraiture; photography democratized image-making, making it possible to produce likenesses at a fraction of the cost and time previously required. However, the labour involved shouldn't be underestimated. Each photograph required careful preparation of the materials, precise timing during exposure, and skilled development in the darkroom. While photography was an industrializing process, it still required considerable handwork. The result is a fascinating intersection of technology and craft, mirroring the sitter's own place in a rapidly changing society. It invites us to consider how new modes of production influence not only what art is made, but who gets to be represented.