Portret van kapitein Van Eysden, Nederlandse militair c. 1870 - 1900

This is a photograph of Captain Van Eysden, a Dutch military man, made by Johan Christiaan Reesinck. It's a small object; the print is mounted on card and embellished with gold leaf. Photography in this era relied on chemical processes, light-sensitive emulsions carefully applied to surfaces, and darkroom techniques to produce an image. It was a complex blend of science, craft, and artistry. What you see is the outcome of manual dexterity and technical knowledge. Reesinck had to master these skills to produce images that satisfied the growing demand for portraiture, from people like Captain Van Eysden. The photograph itself reflects broader social issues of the time. It captures the rise of a new middle class, with disposable income and aspirations for upward mobility. Photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider audience than traditional painting ever could. Considering the materials and processes used to make this photograph helps us to understand its social and cultural significance, and challenges our conventional ideas about fine art and craft.