Liefkozend stel in klederdracht before 1882

This small albumen print shows a loving couple in traditional dress, and was made by Max Balde in the late 19th century. The albumen process, invented in 1850, involved coating a sheet of paper with egg white, then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. The resulting print has a distinctive look, with subtle gradations of tone and a slightly soft focus. Looking at the image today, it’s easy to forget just how laborious photography was in those early years. This wasn’t a snapshot, but rather a carefully composed and crafted object. And that’s especially evident if we consider that most photographs at this time were made in studios, or were documentary in nature. By contrast, this image is romantic, staged to suggest a candid moment in an idyllic setting, and hinting at a wider cultural context. Photographs like this were popular souvenirs, especially from tourist destinations. The very act of commissioning and owning this image was a form of consumption. So, even a humble printed image can offer insight into the social, economic, and cultural dynamics of its time.