Portret van drie vrouwen met hoed en parasols in de hand 1880 - 1901

Hendrik Boonstoppel captured this photograph of three women using early photographic processes that were just beginning to be available to the masses. Photography, although seemingly instantaneous, relies on the skilled application of chemistry, optics, and paper production. Look closely, and you can see how the material qualities of early photographic paper—its texture, weight, and sensitivity to light—influence the final image. Each photograph, like a crafted object, carries the trace of the alchemical processes that brought it into being. Photographs democratized portraiture, reducing the amount of labor compared to painting. Yet, portrait photography also created new forms of labor for the working class: posing, printing, and the ongoing maintenance of studios and equipment. As we appreciate the image, consider the labor, the history of chemistry and paper-making, and its social context. This expands our understanding, challenging the distinctions between fine art and craft, and revealing the complex interplay of social, material, and artistic forces.