Portret van een jongeman 1861 - 1887

This photographic portrait of a young man was made by Albert Greiner, though the specific date is unknown. It’s a small work, about 8 by 5 centimeters. The photograph is mounted onto card, which has been elaborately printed with borders to make it into a keepsake. Photography in the 19th century was a labor-intensive and chemically complex process, involving considerable skill on the part of the photographer. As a result, these images were precious objects. The use of card elevates the photographic image itself. The borders, embossed with lines, create a sense of value that speaks to the rise of photography as a social practice, and its inextricable ties to the industrial revolution. In understanding this photograph, we might reflect on the material support of the image itself, and the wider social context of labor, politics, and consumption. This is a far cry from traditional artistic practices, yet no less important as a cultural artifact.