Portret van Umberto I van Italië before 1885

This is a photographic portrait of Umberto I of Italy, made by an anonymous photographer. Photography, even at this relatively early date, was never a solitary activity. A photographic studio involved specialized labor: camera operators, darkroom technicians, and those responsible for retouching negatives. Consider the material qualities of this image. It’s a light-sensitive emulsion, meticulously applied to a paper substrate. Each stage of the photographic process required careful control of variables – temperature, timing, chemical concentrations – and close attention to surface qualities. These choices all contribute to the appearance of the final print. The photograph is mounted within the pages of what appears to be a book or journal, suggesting it was produced and consumed within a culture of both high art and industrial production, but it also raises questions about the status of photography as both a medium of mass production and a vehicle for intimate portraiture. Ultimately, considering how this photograph was made, and how it circulated, helps us better understand its cultural significance.