Portret van een staande vrouw met ketting 1870 - 1900

This portrait of a standing woman with necklace was made with albumen print by Tandy and Co. 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 created a detailed image, prized for its glossy surface and tonal range. But it was also labor intensive, and relied on the availability of standardized materials. As photography became more accessible, the question of who could afford it became a question of class. The image’s sepia tones are characteristic of the albumen print, and the sharp focus captures the sitter's pose. The very construction of the photograph speaks to the emergence of a new visual culture, one increasingly shaped by industrial processes and the rise of consumer society. Paying close attention to materials and making can reveal how this small photograph reflects broader shifts in labor, politics, and consumption.