Portret van een klein kind 1860 - 1865

This is a photograph, made by Johannes Baer in the late 19th or early 20th century. The process involved a light-sensitive emulsion on a paper or glass support, exposed in a dark room, then developed using chemicals to reveal the image. This technology democratized portraiture, enabling middle-class families to capture likenesses. The final product—a small, easily reproducible print—speaks to an emerging culture of mass media and visual consumption. Consider the labor involved: from manufacturing photographic materials to the photographer’s skill in capturing the image, to the labour of the sitter, having to sit still and hold their pose. The photograph’s intimate scale invites close examination, while its sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era. The very existence of this image challenges traditional notions of art and value, emphasizing the cultural significance of everyday objects and experiences.