Portret van een staand meisje, aangeduid als Thilly Possibly 1892

Joh. Evers made this photographic portrait of a standing girl, named Thilly, using the wet collodion process. This method, popular in the late 19th century, involved coating a glass plate with a chemical solution, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. The resulting image has a distinctive tonal range and sharpness. Note how the light subtly captures the texture of Thilly’s dress and the polished leather of her boots, all set against a purposefully blurred backdrop. Wet collodion was demanding, requiring portable darkrooms and skilled technicians. This made photography somewhat exclusive, yet also highly valued. Each print was unique. Consider the labor involved: from preparing the chemicals to posing the subject, a lot of work went into this small memento. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are products of complex social and technical processes, blurring the lines between documentation and artistry.