Portret van een baby op een fauteuil 1859 - 1890

This diminutive photograph was made by Johannes Petrus Oppers, and shows a baby sitting in an armchair. It is made from a piece of paper coated with light-sensitive chemicals, capturing a fleeting moment in time. The choice of photography as a medium speaks volumes. Unlike painting or sculpture, which required extensive training and were accessible primarily to the elite, photography democratized portraiture. Suddenly, the burgeoning middle class could afford to capture their likeness and that of their loved ones. This new technology changed the ways that people related to each other, and is an integral part of the industrial revolution. The image’s appeal comes not just from its subject, but also from the very process by which it was created. Paying attention to materials, making, and social context allows us to appreciate the rich history embedded within this seemingly simple photograph, challenging the traditional boundaries between fine art and everyday life.