Portrait of Fanny Janauschek c. 1860

Curator: This is Johann Philipp Hoff's "Portrait of Fanny Janauschek," a captivating albumen print from around 1860, now held at the Städel Museum. What strikes you initially about it? Editor: There's an immediate sense of gravity, of thoughtful concentration. The figure seems entirely absorbed in the act of writing, leaning intimately over a book. It is as if the world has shrunk to just these implements: hand, quill, book, word. Curator: Yes, and think about the albumen print itself – a process involving coating paper with egg whites to create a smooth surface. Each print is unique, isn't it? Think about the labor involved at every stage of the process! It adds a whole other dimension. Editor: Absolutely. The warm sepia tones evoke a powerful sense of nostalgia, like a memory viewed through the lens of time. The woman’s gaze, cast downward, hints at untold stories—a melancholy air that speaks to the romantic spirit of the era. It also might subtly hint at how acting at this time was not taken seriously and this pensive state reflects this internal and external pressure of artistic pursuit. Curator: Indeed. And the fact that it's a photographic portrait adds a fascinating layer, doesn’t it? Photography democratized portraiture. We see a very human portrait here. We can only guess what meanings these symbols conveyed. Editor: A fair point. One ponders the role of the book and pen in an age rapidly transforming through industrial advances and, I might say, social alienation. These are more than props but instead emblems of creativity and human engagement amid those tumultuous times. Curator: Perhaps also items that she would have used for the many different plays she played, considering the role required such implements as a pen for writing lines on stage, the book, being her prompt. I also see an intimate collaboration between photographer and subject, carefully staged yet seemingly candid. Editor: So the image resonates as a tribute to inner life during times when artistic pursuits face pressure and the future is quite unknown, all framed by this exquisite egg-white coated paper. Curator: I agree; the artistic intent really shines through as we examine this image beyond surface appearances. It reminds us to truly observe objects of a certain era, to note the processes that can deepen the emotional depth in images, despite the changes to processes that happened after.