Portret van een (vermoedelijk) Franse militair, staand in een driekwartbroek naast een stoel met een helm 1870 - 1900

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to this photograph. It’s called “Portret van een (vermoedelijk) Franse militair, staand in een driekwartbroek naast een stoel met een helm," attributed to a photographer named Paul, and dating roughly between 1870 and 1900. Editor: Immediately I'm struck by the rigidity, the absolute stillness of it. He's posed like a statue, with this heavy chair practically becoming a part of him. Does it make anyone else feel... heavy? Curator: Well, let’s think about the context. This would have been during or just after the Franco-Prussian War. Photography at that time required long exposure, demanding absolute stillness from the subject. This technical constraint profoundly impacted portraiture of the era, shaping how individuals were represented and perceived, not to mention, the impact on labor! Editor: True, but look at the uniform details, the elaborate trim, the sheen on that chair. I see so much pride... but perhaps sadness too? He looks like he’s trying to make a statement of permanence in a world rapidly changing, or one defined by brutal war. There is defiance but the hand gripping that chair speaks volumes. Curator: And speaking of material statements, the type of photography practiced, likely a wet collodion process or similar, required specific chemical knowledge, darkroom setup, a complex interaction between craft and science. It shows a democratization of art production. We could see photographs popping up in many middle class homes, or even for soldiers wanting to create an individual and timeless souvenir of self. Editor: I hadn't considered it in those terms. But, taking on the perspective of that soldier staring, unblinking into the lens of the camera back in that moment is truly profound. It adds so much meaning! Curator: Absolutely. By considering photographic processes of this work we’re able to view an enhanced portrait where his humanity comes alive. Editor: What a potent reminder of the past made visible again, not only of this man, but also about how things are created with constraints which often enhances their inherent beauty.