Portret van Jules Massenet c. 1880 - 1885

This is a photographic portrait of Jules Massenet by Nadar, probably made in the late 19th century, mounted in a larger publication. Photography in this era was a laborious process, involving careful mixing of chemicals and painstaking attention to light and exposure. The final product, a sepia-toned print, has an inherent gravity, a sense of material presence that we often miss in our digital age. Consider the role of the photographer as a skilled alchemist, transforming ordinary materials into images of lasting significance. Nadar was not just a photographer, but a celebrity, and a savvy entrepreneur. This places photography within the context of both artistic skill and commercial enterprise. The act of creating a portrait was a social exchange, a carefully staged encounter between artist and sitter, recorded for posterity. By emphasizing the labor and materiality behind the image, we can appreciate the full context in which it was made.