Portret van een onbekende vrouw bij een stoel 1865 - 1866

This is a photograph by Alphonse Joseph Lebour, a portrait of an unknown woman, likely made using the wet collodion process, a popular technique in the mid-19th century. The process itself involved coating a glass plate with a light-sensitive emulsion, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. This explains the somewhat soft, ethereal quality of the image. The limited tonal range and sepia tone are also characteristic of this process. Looking at the photograph, we can see the sitter's dress and the ornate chair. Consider the labor involved in creating such garments, from textile production to tailoring. The chair too, speaks of skilled craftsmanship. Lebour’s work gives us an intimate glimpse into the material culture of the time. The photograph reminds us that every image is the result of specific techniques, each with its own social and cultural significance. It bridges the gap between fine art and craft, inviting us to consider photography as a process deeply embedded in material practices.