Portret van Thomas Chapman, voorzitter van Lloyd's Register tussen 1835 en 1881 c. 1876 - 1881

This is a photographic portrait of Thomas Chapman, chairman of Lloyd’s Register, likely made in the late 19th century by Elliott & Fry. As a photographic print, it represents a shift in the way that likenesses were made and consumed in the 19th century. The rise of photography was directly linked to the industrial revolution, offering a quicker, more accessible way of representing people than painting or sculpture. Studios like Elliott & Fry became important businesses, their success a reflection of the increasing demand for portraiture among the middle classes. Consider the social implications of this shift. Photography democratized image-making, but it also created new hierarchies of skill and value. Photographers became specialized laborers, operating complex machinery to satisfy the public's desire for images. This portrait of Chapman, therefore, is more than just a record of his appearance. It's a material document of a changing world, where industry and commerce were shaping new forms of art, labor, and social identity.