Portret van een onbekende man 1855 - 1885

This photograph of an unknown man was taken by John George Kirby sometime in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The materials are simple: a treated paper substrate, and silver halide salts to capture the image. Photography in this era was a fascinating intersection of craft and nascent industrialization. While the photographer still needed skill in posing the sitter and developing the image, the materials themselves were increasingly mass-produced, reflecting a growing consumer culture. Consider the labour involved in the production process: from mining the silver, to manufacturing the paper, to the photographer's expertise, and the sitter's contribution to the image. The photograph’s sepia tone and small size give it an intimate feel, connecting us to a bygone era. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the product of complex social and economic forces. It challenges the traditional distinction between fine art and craft by underscoring the significance of materials, making, and social context in understanding the full meaning of this artwork.