Portret van Hendrik Tollens 1850 - 1856

This portrait of Hendrik Tollens was made by Johannes Hinderikus Egenberger, using photographic methods common at the time. Photography, invented in the 19th century, changed portraiture forever. Before this, painted portraits were only for the wealthy, but photography democratized the process. Photographs like this one were made through a complex chemical process, involving light-sensitive materials to capture an image. The final print, often on paper, preserves a moment in time with remarkable detail. The material qualities of the photograph, such as its sepia tone and the texture of the paper, give it a unique aesthetic appeal. Think about the labor involved, from manufacturing the photographic equipment to the photographer's skill in capturing and developing the image. Photography transformed not only art but also social dynamics, by making images of ourselves and others more accessible than ever before.