Portret van Emma, koningin-regentes der Nederlanden, en Wilhelmina, koningin der Nederlanden 1890 - 1895

Adolphe Zimmermans made this photograph of Queen Emma and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Photography, itself, is a fascinating medium when considered from the perspective of craft. It's easy to overlook the labor involved, the precise choreography of posing, the complex chemistry of the darkroom, and the skilled manipulation of light. Even in a seemingly straightforward portrait like this, the photographer is carefully composing a scene, dictating pose and expression, and ultimately controlling the final image. The sepia tone, achieved through chemical processes, gives the photograph a warm, nostalgic feel, while also serving as a reminder of the complex and often toxic materials involved in early photographic production. Though it may look straightforward, it involved a whole economy of production, both materially and in terms of human activity. By recognizing the processes, we deepen our appreciation of the work, and recognize photography's place within broader histories of both art and industry.