Portret van een vrouw met muts, staand bij een stoel

This photograph, of a woman with a bonnet standing by a chair, was made by Wegner and Mottu. It is a silver albumen print – a process popular in the 19th century, involving coating paper with albumen from egg whites, then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. The appeal of albumen prints lay in their sharp detail and glossy surface, achieved through careful chemical treatment and printing techniques. This was a labor-intensive process, requiring skilled technicians to prepare the materials and develop the image. The final print, mounted on card stock, served as a durable and portable record, suitable for display or inclusion in a family album. Photography in this era was not just about capturing a likeness; it was also deeply connected to emerging industrial processes and economic structures. The rise of commercial studios like Wegner and Mottu reflects the growing demand for portraiture among the middle classes, fueled by increasing disposable income and the desire for social mobility.