Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1840 - 1860

This portrait of an unknown woman was made by John Werge using the daguerreotype process, an early form of photography that renders incredible detail. The daguerreotype was created on a silver-plated copper sheet, polished to a mirror finish, and then treated with chemicals to make it light-sensitive. After a long exposure in the camera, the image was developed with mercury vapor, fixed, and then sealed under glass to prevent tarnishing. The final result is a one-of-a-kind image that captures the texture of the sitter’s dress and lace collar. The daguerreotype was a technological marvel of its time, democratizing portraiture and capturing the likenesses of a growing middle class. The elaborate case, lined with plush velvet, speaks to the value placed on these early photographs as precious keepsakes. Considering the materials and making of this object allows us to look beyond the image itself, and think about the cultural significance of this emerging technology, and how it transformed the very notion of portraiture.