Portret van een zittende oude vrouw 1850 - 1867

This is a photograph by Henri Pronk, likely made in the mid-19th century. The carte-de-visite, as these small portraits were known, was an early form of democratized image-making. Thanks to innovations in photographic chemistry and mass production, suddenly even ordinary people could participate in the tradition of portraiture. Consider the materiality of this object. The photograph itself is a chemical reaction, light captured on a treated surface. The subject is carefully posed, and the image printed and mounted onto card stock. It is a multiple, meant to be exchanged and collected in albums. Look closely and you might even see signs of wear, telling a story of handling and display over time. Ultimately, this photograph serves as a reminder of the power of accessible making, and how technological advancements shape our interactions with art and each other.