Groepsportret van twee onbekende vrouwen en een onbekende man 1861 - 1890

This group portrait by Albert Greiner was made using albumen silver print, a process popular in the mid-19th century. The inherent qualities of albumen printing—a process involving coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate—lend the image its distinctive sepia tone and subtle tonal range. This specific process, however, demanded a complex procedure. The photographer had to prepare, sensitize, expose, develop, and fix the print, requiring precision and skill at every stage. Beyond its aesthetic qualities, this printing method reflects the rapidly changing social context of the 19th century. The rise of photography coincided with the rise of consumerism, which made portraiture more accessible to the middle class. Photography studios emerged as hubs of creative enterprise, employing skilled workers and contributing to the growth of visual culture. Understanding the materials, making, and context of this photograph allows us to appreciate its artistic value and its significance as a document of social history, blurring the line between fine art and craft.