Portret van een zittende man met fotoalbum 1859 - 1870

This is a photographic portrait by F. Joubert, likely made in the late 19th or early 20th century. Though modest in size, its materiality speaks volumes. Photography, even in its early days, involved a complex interplay of chemistry and optics, transforming light into a tangible image. Here, the photographic emulsion, carefully applied to a paper substrate, captures a moment of bourgeois formality. The subject's pose, attire, and the meticulously rendered furniture all suggest a carefully constructed identity. What's often overlooked is the labor involved in producing these images. From the preparation of chemicals to the printing process itself, each step required skilled hands. The rise of photography democratized portraiture, but it also created new forms of labor and consumption. By focusing on the materials and making of this photograph, we can better understand its social and cultural significance, challenging any perceived hierarchy between fine art and everyday practice.