Portret van een onbekende man, aangeduid als de heer Anderson 1872

This photograph of an unknown man, possibly Mr. Anderson, was produced by Johannes Jaeger in Stockholm. It's a carte-de-visite, a small photographic print on paper, that was immensely popular in the mid-19th century. Think about the social impact of this object; photography democratized portraiture. Before this, only the wealthy could afford to have their likeness captured by a painter. The carte-de-visite, made using relatively inexpensive materials, allowed a wider segment of society to participate in the creation and circulation of images. The process involved skilled labor. Photographers like Jaeger had to master complex chemical processes and operate specialized equipment. The rise of photography studios created new jobs, and mass-produced images entered the market as affordable consumer goods. So, while this small portrait might seem simple, it reflects significant shifts in society, technology, and commerce.