Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1875 - 1886

This portrait of an unknown woman was produced by Dahllöf & Co. using photographic methods that were becoming increasingly popular in the late 19th century. The albumen print, made from paper coated with egg white, gives the image a distinctive sepia tone and a smooth surface, allowing for fine detail, like the delicate lace at the woman's neck. Photography at this time involved a complex interplay of chemistry, optics, and skilled darkroom practice. The production of such photographs was part of a burgeoning commercial industry, employing many people in various roles, from the photographers themselves to the workers preparing the chemicals and paper. The rise of photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider segment of the population, and shifting artistic expression from handmade art to mechanical reproduction. This piece reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images have a rich history embedded in their making, and reflect broader shifts in labor, politics, and consumption.