Portret van een man met hoofddoek 1880 - 1910

Jean Geiser likely made this albumen print photograph, titled "Portret van een man met hoofddoek," sometime in the late 19th century. The albumen print process, popular during this era, involved coating paper with egg white and then with a silver nitrate solution, making it sensitive to light. A negative was then placed on the prepared paper and exposed to sunlight, creating a detailed image. The popularity of photography in the 19th century was tied to the burgeoning middle class and the desire for accessible portraiture. While painting remained the domain of the wealthy, photography offered a relatively affordable way to capture one's likeness. This photograph, with its careful attention to detail and presentation, speaks to the democratizing effect of photography. It transformed image-making from a handcrafted product to a more widely accessible commodity, reflecting broader shifts in labor, technology, and consumption. The rise of photography challenged the traditional boundaries between art and craft, forcing a reassessment of artistic value and skill.