Portret van Boni Hatzfeldt 1868 - 1869

This is a photograph of Boni Hatzfeldt by Friedrich Hundt. The process by which this image was made differs greatly from painting or drawing; it’s the result of a chemical reaction, made possible by industrial advancements. The paper support, the sensitizing emulsion, the lens of the camera – all were commodities available in the marketplace. The rigid pose and formal attire speak to the way photography was used as a tool for social distinction, and to memorialize loved ones. But the final result also depended on countless workers involved in the production and distribution of photographic materials. Next time you look at a photograph, consider the complex layering of processes – chemical, social, and economic – that give the image its unique power. It is so much more than the single moment it captures.