Portret van een jongeman 1850 - 1899

This photograph, "Portret van een jongeman," was made by Mozes Cohen, and it captures a slice of 19th-century life. Think about what’s involved in the making of a photograph like this. First, the production of photographic materials, like the glass plate negative and the specialized chemicals needed to develop it. Then, the labor involved in creating a finished print, and the additional craft of mounting the photograph in albums like this one. These processes were becoming increasingly industrialized in the late 1800s, but they still relied on skilled work. Photographs like this democratized portraiture, making images of loved ones more accessible than ever before. But even as it did so, photography also created new forms of labor and consumption. So, next time you look at an old photograph, remember that it's not just a record of the past. It's also a product of its time, reflecting the social, economic, and technological forces that shaped its creation.