Portret van een man met baard 1875 - 1910

This portrait of a bearded man was made with photographic techniques by Heinrich Wilhelm Wollrabe. Though photographic portraits may seem commonplace today, it's worth remembering that each one, like this, involves a complex interplay of chemistry and optics. The surface would have been carefully prepared with light-sensitive compounds, and the subject held still for an extended exposure. This was far from an automatic process; it required skill and precision. Consider, too, the social context. Photography in this period was largely the preserve of the middle and upper classes, for whom it was a way to record their image for posterity. Wollrabe, as the photographer, played a crucial role in this system, using his expertise to create lasting records of his clients' identities and aspirations. By focusing on these aspects, we can appreciate the true depth of even a small portrait like this, moving beyond surface appearances to understand the labor, technology, and social forces at play.