Portret van een vrouw c. 1880 - 1910

Carel Frederik Cordes created this portrait of a woman using photographic techniques common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the time, photography was a complex process that involved coating a plate with light-sensitive emulsion, exposing it in a camera, and then developing the image using a series of chemical baths. The resulting photograph was often a unique object, carefully composed and finished. The sepia tones give the image a soft, warm quality, while the oval format and simple mounting contribute to the portrait's intimate feel. The labor and skill involved in the production of such a photograph contrast with today's ease of digital image-making. By attending to the photograph's materiality and the processes involved in its creation, we can more fully appreciate its historical and cultural significance. It bridges the gap between fine art and craft and highlights photography's role in shaping our understanding of portraiture.