Portret van een vrouw, aangeduid als Mevrouw Franken 1850 - 1900

This is a photographic portrait, thought to be of Mrs. Franken, made by Alphonse Leroy. The photographic process, especially in its early days, involved a complex choreography of chemistry and light. Each print was a unique object, carefully developed and fixed. The subtle variations in tone and texture that you see here are a direct result of that hands-on approach. What’s interesting is that photography, from its inception, has always had this dual nature. On the one hand, it's a mechanical process, tied to industrial modes of production. On the other, it's a craft, requiring skilled practitioners to coax an image into being. Consider the labor involved, the meticulous work in the darkroom, the precise timing, and the reliance on chemical processes. This piece invites us to think about the relationship between technology, artistry, and the human touch. It challenges the traditional hierarchy that places painting and sculpture above more 'mechanical' arts.