Portret van een man met snor en in de hand een hoge hoed 1855 - 1890

This photographic portrait of a moustached man with a top hat was made by Clarkington & Company. The photograph, though modest in size, reflects significant industrial processes. It's a chemical print, likely an albumen silver print, where paper is coated with albumen from egg whites, then sensitized with silver nitrate. This technique, common in the 19th century, allowed for sharp and detailed images. The making of this photograph demanded considerable labor, from preparing the chemicals to posing the subject and printing the final image. It speaks to the rise of commercial photography, as skilled artisans adapted scientific knowledge to serve a growing middle class eager to capture and share their likeness. By focusing on photography's materiality and production, we move beyond the image itself, to consider the broader social and economic context in which it was created.