Portret van een onbekende man before 1902

This portrait of an unknown man was made by Frederick Hollyer, an English photographer active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Hollyer used a process called photogravure, a printing technique that combines photography and etching. In photogravure, a copper plate is coated with a light-sensitive gelatin tissue, exposed to a photographic negative, and then etched with acid. The varying depths of the etched areas hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure, creating a print with rich tonal range and fine detail. Hollyer's photogravures were highly regarded for their artistic quality, often resembling the soft, atmospheric effects of paintings or drawings. This technique allowed photographers to elevate their work to the status of fine art, challenging the traditional hierarchy between photography and other visual arts. The labor-intensive process of photogravure also added value to the final product, distinguishing it from mass-produced photographic prints. Ultimately, Hollyer’s practice demonstrates the importance of considering materials, techniques, and historical context in understanding photography as a vital art form.