Portret van een jongen 1878 - 1900

This 'Portret van een jongen' was made by Cornelis Bernardus Broersma, date unknown. The image appears to be printed with an albumen process, a popular photographic technique during the mid-19th century, known for its smooth surface and fine detail. The albumen print was made by coating paper with egg white and then sensitizing it with a silver salt solution. It was a time-consuming process, demanding technical skill, and the results yielded sepia tones, as seen here. This process made photography more accessible than earlier methods like daguerreotypes, although it still required specialized knowledge and equipment. The albumen print reflects the rise of photography as a means of documentation and portraiture. It was part of an expanding visual culture fueled by industrialization, which made these images more affordable to a broader segment of society. These photographic processes, along with the related trades of photography, made visual culture both a commodity and an aesthetic object. Therefore, it highlights the intersection of technological innovation, economic forces, and artistic expression.