Portret van een man met snor 1895

Edmondo Behles captured this carte-de-visite, or visiting card portrait, around 1870 using photographic processes that were rapidly industrializing at the time. Photography in this era required careful chemical preparation and precise timing; from coating glass plates with light-sensitive emulsions to developing images in darkrooms lit by candlelight, each step demanded skill and attention. The resulting sepia tones and soft focus are characteristic of the era, imparting a sense of nostalgia. The rise of photography studios democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider audience. While traditional painted portraits remained exclusive to the elite, photographic prints offered a more affordable alternative for documenting personal identity and social status. Carte-de-visite like these became wildly popular and were traded amongst friends and family. This small photograph encapsulates the intersection of art, science, and commerce in the late 19th century, and how technological advancements transformed artistic practices and redefined our understanding of representation.