Portret van een oude man met baard, zittend aan een tafel 1860 - 1900

This portrait of an old man with a beard was created by Moira & Haigh using photographic techniques of the time. The sepia tones and the crispness of the image highlight photography's unique ability to capture detail. In this instance, the texture of the man’s tailored suit, his ornate chair, and even the lines on his face are all rendered with great clarity. These details were all made possible through the intricate chemical processes of early photography. While we might think of photography as an instantaneous art form, images like these actually involved considerable preparation and expertise. The materiality of photography is often overlooked, but consider the heavy glass plates, the carefully balanced solutions, and the skilled darkroom work that was necessary to produce such a compelling likeness. This portrait, therefore, is not just an image of a man, but a testament to the artistry and labor involved in early photographic processes, blurring the lines between craft and art.