Portret van een vrouw uit de familie Marmelstein, vermoedelijk de moeder van A. F. Marmelstein 1861 - 1874

This is a photographic portrait of a woman from the Marmelstein family, made by Albert Greiner in the 19th century. Photography at this time was a complex, alchemical process involving light-sensitive materials and painstaking darkroom techniques. The ambrotype process, which involves creating a positive image on glass, was a relatively affordable way to have one's likeness captured. Looking at this portrait, we can consider how the rise of photography democratized image-making, moving it away from the exclusive realm of painting. However, the labor involved in producing a photograph should not be overlooked; from the photographer's skill in posing and lighting to the darkroom technicians who developed the image. The materiality and making of this photograph, therefore, offer insights into the changing landscape of art, labor, and class in the 19th century. It challenges traditional notions of fine art by highlighting the craft and industrial processes involved in its creation.