Fotoreproductie van een portret van Karl Emanuel Jansson before 1880

This is a photographic reproduction of a portrait of Karl Emanuel Jansson by Daniel Nyblin, probably made sometime around the turn of the 20th century. Consider for a moment the labor involved in making this image. The photographer of course, but also the skilled workers who prepared the photographic paper, carefully sensitizing it with chemicals. Each print was made by hand in the darkroom, using carefully controlled techniques of light exposure and development. The result is a study in tonal gradations, capturing the sitter’s likeness with a compelling realism. And then there is the labor of reproduction, involving an entirely different set of skills. Typesetting the accompanying text, preparing the printing plates, and the physical act of printing itself. All of this activity, now largely invisible, contributes to the aura of the photograph. So, although at first glance, this may seem like a straightforward portrait, in fact, it's the result of numerous processes and different forms of human ingenuity. It is an artifact of its time, reflecting both the possibilities and the labor dynamics of the early photographic industry.