Portret van een jongeman 1860 - 1900

This portrait of a young man was produced by William H. Harris, using photographic methods typical of its time. The image, itself, is a delicate silver print. The surface is matte and finely detailed, revealing the subject's formal attire: bow tie, waistcoat and jacket. Encased in a decorative card mount, the photograph is small, intimate, almost jewel-like. Consider the chemistry involved, the precision of the lens, the patience required for the exposure. Photography like this democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider segment of society than painted portraits. Reflect on how these images would have been circulated and consumed, often collected in albums and shared amongst family and friends. In its own way, photography collapsed traditional distinctions between art and craft by offering a novel means of mechanical reproduction and artistic creation.