Portret van een meisje, staand bij een balustrade Possibly 1879 - 1887

Willem Hooijer made this photograph, "Portret van een meisje, staand bij een balustrade," using photographic techniques common in his time. Photographs like this one required a complex interplay of chemistry and optics. Light-sensitive materials were carefully prepared, exposed through a lens, and then developed using chemical processes. Hooijer likely worked in a studio setting to control light and composition, ensuring the best possible image. This image is not just a portrait; it's a material record of a specific time and technology. The sepia tone of the photograph is a direct result of the chemicals used in early photographic development, giving it an antique feel. The image's texture, slightly soft and with subtle imperfections, reflects the limitations of the materials and equipment available. The care taken in posing the subject and framing the shot demonstrates a deliberate artistic intent, showing how even technological processes can be shaped by human creativity. Considering the material and making of this photograph helps us appreciate not only the subject, but also the historical and social context in which it was created.