Portret van een jonge vrouw 1883 - 1910

This albumen print of a young woman was made by Johannes Laurens Theodorus Huijsen, probably in the late 19th century. The albumen process, popular at the time, involved coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, resulting in a glossy surface that captured fine details. This photographic technique emerged during a period when photography was transitioning from a craft practiced by a few to an industry accessible to the masses. The rise of photography studios created new avenues of labor, with specialized roles in developing, printing, and retouching images. Consider the amount of work involved in preparing the photographic materials, posing the sitter, and developing the final print. Processes and technologies were tied to wider social issues of labor and consumption, and the way in which the development of photography democratized portraiture. By considering the materials and making of this photograph, we gain a deeper appreciation for its cultural and social context, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.