Portret van een man, zittend c. 1870 - 1872

This portrait was produced by Gebr. Kerremans, and it shows how photography in the 19th century became a fascinating blend of science, artistry, and commerce. The image is printed on albumen paper, a process developed in 1850, using egg whites to bind the photographic chemicals to the paper. While it created stunning clarity, the production was labor-intensive. The photographer had to be a chemist, managing light, developing solutions, and the delicate paper, all while posing the sitter. Notice the subject's stillness; exposure times were long, and any movement would blur the image. Photography democratized portraiture. Before this, only the wealthy could afford to have their likeness captured in paint. But the new medium, though requiring specialized knowledge and equipment, allowed a broader range of society to participate in visual culture. So, when looking at this photograph, consider not just the sitter, but the complex process and the cultural shift it represents. It is a collision of craft and industrialization, art and technology, reflecting a changing social landscape.