Portret van twee mannen, rechts Stephan Piek 1889 - 1893

This is a photograph made by Johanna Margaretha Piek, and it portrays two men, one of whom is Stephan Piek. Photographs are, of course, indexical, meaning that they rely on the presence of light, and a mechanical process. But let's not forget the crucial role of chemistry and the darkroom. The photograph’s sepia tone and soft focus are due to particular chemical processes, in this case gelatin silver printing, popular during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This was a departure from earlier photographic practices, like daguerrotypes, which were unique images, not reproducible. The gelatin silver print allowed for mass production, and its material qualities speak to the rise of photography as both an artistic and a commercial medium. Consider also the labor involved: from the manufacture of photographic materials, to the photographer’s skill, and finally the cultural practices that give photographs their meaning. These factors all contribute to our understanding of this modest, yet captivating portrait.