Portret van twee onbekende kinderen 1867 - 1901

Arnold Nelius Marinus Johannes Fock created this photographic print of two unknown children. The albumen print process, popular in the 19th century, involved coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, then exposing it to light through a negative. This resulted in a sepia-toned image, prized for its detail and tonal range. Here, the material process is integral to the image's social function. Photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider segment of society than traditional painting. This print, likely a family memento, speaks to the burgeoning middle class and their aspirations for sentimental keepsakes. The very act of posing, and the accoutrements of dress and doll, reflect a specific cultural moment – one where childhood itself was being constructed as a distinct and precious phase of life. The print is a convergence of material, method, and social context.