Portret van een onbekende man met baard, staande in een tuin c. 1865 - 1900

This is a photographic portrait by Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn, made sometime in the 19th century. The process used to create it is as important as the image itself. Photography in the 1800's wasn't point-and-shoot. It was a labor-intensive process. Each image required careful preparation of glass plates with light-sensitive chemicals. The photographer acted as a chemist, carefully coating, exposing, and developing each plate. The final result on glass was then used to print paper copies. Every step of the process demanded precision, from mixing chemicals to controlling light exposure. The resulting image, with its unique tonal range and fine detail, embodies the skill and effort involved. This kind of image-making contrasts with our current digital era. What was once an alchemical process requiring specialized knowledge and manual dexterity has been distilled down to a tap on a screen. By considering the intense labor involved in early photography, we can appreciate the artistry and the cultural value placed on capturing an image in the past.