Portret van Charles Gounod, componist c. 1880 - 1891

This portrait of Charles Gounod, the composer, was made by Nadar using photography, a relatively new medium in the 19th century. Photography democratized portraiture. Before, only the wealthy could afford to have their likeness captured in a painting. Photography, however, allowed a wider range of people to participate in visual culture. The ambrotype was a photographic process that created a positive image on glass, a more affordable option than earlier methods like the daguerreotype, which used silver-plated copper. This speaks to photography's increasingly accessible and commercial nature. Nadar, though, elevates the medium by focusing on capturing the essence of his sitters. He was interested in portraying their inner character. The final product has more to do with artistry, rather than commerce. The work encourages us to consider the social and economic impact of new technologies, and how they blur the lines between art, craft, and industry.