[John Linnel] 1863

This is a photograph of John Linnell, made around 1863 by Eotto's School of Photography, using the albumen print process, a technique popular in the mid-19th century. To make this print, a negative was placed on paper coated with albumen, derived from egg whites, and silver salts. Exposed to light, the silver salts darkened, creating the image. This process resulted in a smooth surface with fine detail, and a characteristic sepia tone that we can still see today. The albumen print was revolutionary. It enabled mass production of photographs, creating new visual economies, and transforming photography into a more accessible medium. Look at how Linnell is represented: seated, posed, and framed with props, suggesting the emergent photographic studio practices of the time, and the rise of commercial portraiture. Photographs like these invite us to consider the convergence of art, technology, and commerce in the 19th century, challenging our understanding of both fine art and craft.