Louis Figuier 1853 - 1877

This photographic print of Louis Figuier was made by Nadar, the pseudonym of Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, in France. The image is a testament to the rise of photography as a tool for documentation and portraiture in the 19th century. The albumen print process involved coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, then exposing it to light through a negative. This resulted in a sharp, detailed image with a warm tone. The success of the technique relied on the careful control of chemical processes and skillful manipulation of light and shadow. Nadar was known for his ability to capture the character and intellect of his subjects, and this portrait of Figuier is no exception. The use of photography as a medium allowed for the democratization of portraiture, making it accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. Considering the work involved in creating the prints, photography in the 19th century can be seen as a blend of art and craft, and the process of making these artworks involved the use of industrial materials which blurred the boundaries between the two.