Portret van een man met baard 1880 - 1920

This photographic portrait was created by Atélier Siewers. Though undated, it gives us a clear window into the technologies and social practices of its time. Photographs like these were a direct outcome of industrial chemistry; the mass production of light-sensitive paper and standardized developing techniques, made it possible for studios like Siewers to flourish. Looking closely, you can see the subtle sepia tones, achieved through chemical processes. The subject's pose is formal, the result of long exposure times that would have required him to sit very still. Consider the social context: photography democratized portraiture. Previously, only the wealthy could afford to have their likeness captured in paint. This small, easily reproduced photograph made image-making accessible to a wider public. It challenges our assumptions about art, inviting us to consider the means of production and its impact on society.