Portret van Charles-Adolphe Wurtz 1860 - 1880

A. Griveau captured this portrait of Charles-Adolphe Wurtz using photography, a relatively new medium at the time. Considered one of the founding fathers of modern chemistry, Wurtz’s stern gaze speaks to the scientific rigor of the 19th century. The photograph, with its formal composition, is a testament to the period's emphasis on order and reason. Yet, in his eyes, there is a hint of the individual, perhaps reflecting the tension between societal expectations and personal identity. Photographs like these helped to solidify the images of influential figures, contributing to the construction of historical narratives. What stories do we tell through the images we create and consume today, and who gets to control the narrative?