Portret van Pierre Loti in uniform c. 1879 - 1885

This is a photograph, by E. Montastier, showing Pierre Loti in uniform. The photographic process itself has a social history. By the time this image was made, photography had evolved from a laborious craft involving toxic chemicals and specialized darkrooms to a relatively accessible means of production. Photography allowed for the widespread dissemination of images, shaping public opinion and memorializing individuals like Loti, whose gaze embodies the confidence of the French colonial project. The photograph captures not only Loti’s likeness, but also the details of his uniform: the cut of the cloth, the gleam of the buttons, the crisp lines of his cap. Each of these elements speaks to a network of makers – tailors, metalworkers, and textile producers. The photograph immortalizes the man, but also serves as a record of the material culture that defined his era. Paying attention to the processes of image-making, and the industries that supplied the materials, opens up a deeper appreciation of this historical portrait.