Portret van Benoît-Constant Coquelin before 1875

This is a photographic portrait of Benoît-Constant Coquelin, created by Ghémar Frères. It appears to be an albumen print, a process popular in the 19th century. The albumen process involved coating paper with egg white and then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. This created a smooth surface ideal for capturing fine details. Notice how this technique renders Coquelin’s features with remarkable clarity, emphasizing his gaze and the texture of his clothing. The tonal range, from deep shadows to bright highlights, speaks to the photographer's mastery of the chemistry involved. What’s interesting is the way the photograph is embedded into the printed page. The image of Coquelin becomes integrated into a broader media landscape: the page itself is filled with printed advertisements. It seems to be a page taken from a magazine, advertising the Brussels theater. This juxtaposition reminds us that photography was not just about artistic expression, but also about commerce and the construction of celebrity. It challenges our usual distinction between fine art and mass media.