Portret van André Lemaistre, 20 maanden oud 1855 - 1885

This is a photograph of André Lemaistre, aged 20 months, made by Witz et Cie. While the exact date is unknown, it is an albumen print, a popular photographic process during the 19th century. The making of an albumen print involved coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, creating a light-sensitive surface. The negative was then placed on the prepared paper and exposed to sunlight, causing the image to appear. This was followed by washing, toning, and fixing to stabilize the print. The material qualities—the sheen and sepia tone of the albumen, the smooth surface of the print—all contributed to its aesthetic appeal. The tonal range gives it a soft, almost dreamy effect. The photograph’s presence implies the existence of a complex industry of photographic production that made images available to a broader public than ever before. The resulting product enabled a market in memory and self-representation.