Portret van Pierre-Antoine Berryer 1863

This portrait of Pierre-Antoine Berryer was made anonymously using a photographic process. Photography was revolutionary, a new way of making images that bypassed the hand of the artist, introducing reproducibility and a seeming objectivity to the world of portraiture. In this image, the tones and textures are a direct result of the chemical processes involved. The photograph captures the sitter's likeness with a verisimilitude that traditional painting could only dream of. This was achieved through the control of light and chemistry. The rise of photography coincided with the industrial revolution, changing how we create and consume images. The process democratized image-making, making portraits accessible to a wider audience, and changing the traditional role of art and the artist in society. Understanding the materials and processes behind photography allows us to appreciate its impact, challenging conventional art and craft boundaries.