Portret van een staande man in uniform met onderscheiding 1855 - 1880

This photographic portrait of a uniformed man, complete with decorations, was made by C.D. Fredricks y Daries. The image is small, but don’t let that fool you, it is an extraordinary material record. The photo itself, likely an albumen print, involved a painstaking chemical process using egg whites to bind light-sensitive materials to paper. It is a process dependent on both scientific understanding and skilled darkroom practice. Think about the labor involved: not only the photographer’s expertise, but also the industrial production of photographic chemicals and paper. The officer’s uniform, with its precise tailoring and shiny buttons, tells its own story of manufacturing and social hierarchy. Each element speaks to a vast network of production and consumption, connecting raw materials to global markets. Looking closely at the photograph, we can see it represents a moment in time and also a nexus of social and economic forces. By considering these material and social dimensions, we gain a richer understanding of its cultural significance.