Portret van Hilma Tengmark 1869 - 1885

Editor: We're looking at "Portret van Hilma Tengmark," taken sometime between 1869 and 1885 by Gösta Florman, an albumen print currently held in the Rijksmuseum. It’s a beautiful portrait, incredibly sharp for its age, and I’m struck by how…staged it feels. What aspects jump out at you? Curator: The albumen print is crucial. It speaks to a specific technology, a chemical process heavily reliant on egg whites—labor intensive. Consider the infrastructure: the photographers, the suppliers of albumen (primarily from egg farms), and the sitter's participation in this emerging visual economy. Each print reflects that entire system. Editor: So, the focus isn’t so much on Hilma Tengmark as an individual, but on the photographic *process*? Curator: Exactly. The choice of clothing, the pose—they reflect societal expectations. We can read into Hilma's status through the fabrication of her garments and her access to a studio photographer. Ask yourself, who could afford this process and what social strata did they occupy? Editor: That’s a completely different way of viewing portraiture. I usually focus on the subject's expression or the artist’s technique… not the broader production involved. Curator: Think of it this way: an albumen print isn't just an image; it's the embodiment of a moment in technological and social history. The material tells a silent but potent story. Editor: I never considered the albumen itself holding that much… information. I’ll definitely look at photography differently from now on, thinking about the hands, factories, even chickens involved! Thanks! Curator: Precisely! Always look beyond the surface. Materiality has so much to offer.