Twee portretten van Anna Maria Lars Bilto en Margarite Larsdatter before 1880

These photographic portraits of Anna Maria Lars Bilto and Margarite Larsdatter were created by Paolo Mantegazza, who lived in the nineteenth century. The photographs, printed on paper, evoke the relatively new technology of photography and its use of light-sensitive materials. Photography in Mantegazza's time was in its relative infancy, but it was already being used in many contexts, from documentation to artistic expression. The tonal range of the paper is narrow, giving the images a soft, almost ethereal quality. The subjects, who appear to be from a working-class background, are captured with an intimate and direct gaze. This reflects the medium's capacity to portray a broad spectrum of society, not just the elite. Mantegazza was not just interested in aesthetics; he was deeply engaged with social issues. These portraits speak to the democratization of representation brought about by photography, challenging conventional hierarchies of fine art. It is important to remember that the materials, the methods, and the social context are all vital parts of the artwork.