Portret [ Zelfportret? ] van Carel Jacobus Behr 1864 - 1868

This photographic portrait of Carel Jacobus Behr was made by the firm J.H. Buckmann. It's a modest object, made of paper and chemicals, yet it speaks volumes about the changing social landscape of the 19th century. Photography in this period was becoming increasingly accessible, moving from the realm of specialist practitioners to a more democratized form of image-making. Consider the labor involved: from the manufacture of the photographic plates to the skilled work in developing and printing the image. The photographer's craft becomes a conduit for capturing likeness, fixing a moment in time. This is not just a portrait, but also an artifact of industrial and social change. It is an early form of mass production that allowed a rising middle class to participate in visual culture. The photograph reminds us that every image, whether painted or printed, has a context, a history of production, and a connection to the world of work.