Portret van een man met bakkebaarden 1867 - 1884

This mounted albumen print of a man with sideburns was created by Wegner & Mottu. Produced using a photographic process, the image is made by coating paper with light-sensitive chemicals. The resulting print captures a moment in time through a chemical reaction. The albumen, derived from egg whites, gives the image its distinctive sheen and tonal range. This process, popular in the 19th century, democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider segment of society beyond the wealthy. The act of taking a photograph and the darkroom labor involved represent a shift in artistic production. The photographer, like a craftsman, manipulates materials and processes to create a finished product, though unlike a painting, the image is created by the subject itself. Consider the social implications of this shift. Photography changed the way people saw themselves and their place in the world. This small portrait, made through the alchemy of light and chemistry, reflects a broader transformation in society and culture.