Portret van twee onbekende meisjes en een hond 1881 - 1883

This is a photograph by Maria Hille, likely made in The Hague in the mid-19th century. As a cabinet card, it was produced through the albumen print process, using a glass negative to create multiple positive images on paper coated with egg white. Think about that egg white, essentially a waste product repurposed to create a smooth, light-sensitive surface. This perfectly encapsulates the ingenuity and resourcefulness often found at the intersection of art and industry. The sepia tone is typical of this process, a result of the silver salts reacting with the albumen. Note, too, the constructed backdrop, the rustic chair, and the branch used as a prop. These details speak to a burgeoning visual culture, where even standardized formats could be imbued with artistic intent. The photograph isn't just a record, it's a carefully crafted image, sold as a commodity. By considering the materials and methods behind it, we can understand the rise of photography as part of broader social and economic shifts.