Portret van een onbekende vrouw met een boek 1855 - 1885

This is a photograph of an unknown woman with a book, made by C. Martfeld using albumen print. This process was a popular 19th-century technique, involving coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate. The end result is this distinctive sepia tone. Looking closely, you can see the effects of this method in the subtle variations of the image's surface. The albumen creates a smooth, almost glossy finish that captures fine details, but also can be prone to imperfections and fading over time. This particular print, with its warm hue and soft focus, speaks to the material qualities of the process and the way it captures light. Consider, too, the social context. Photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider audience than painted portraits. The rise of photography also created new opportunities for skilled workers. This image then, invites us to reflect on the interplay between artistic expression, technological innovation, and social change in the 19th century.