Portret van Picolo de hond before 1894

This photographic portrait of Picolo the dog was made by Hendrik Herman van den Berg, using a process that was gaining popularity in the early 20th century. Photography, unlike painting or sculpture, is unique in its inherent connection to industrial production. Each print is part of a potentially limitless series. Here, the tones range from warm browns to faded grays, achieved through chemical reactions on the photographic paper. We can imagine Van den Berg carefully calibrating the exposure and development, striving for a balance between fidelity and aesthetic effect. The portrait invites us to consider the social context of pet ownership. Was Picolo a pampered companion, a working animal, or both? The photograph itself, as a multiple, democratized the possibility of memorializing a beloved animal. It moves the practice of portraiture away from painting, a more artistic and time-intensive medium, towards a form accessible to a wider public. In doing so, it emphasizes the importance of material processes and social context in understanding the full meaning of the artwork.