Portret van een jonge man 1883 - 1910

This is a photograph of a young man, made by Johannes Laurens Theodorus Huijsen. Produced through the wet collodion process, this early photographic method involved coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals. This plate was then exposed in a camera, and developed immediately, while still wet. It's quite a laborious process, requiring skill and precision to achieve a clear, lasting image. The sepia tone wasn't just an aesthetic choice, but a chemical result of the developing process. This tonal quality, along with the oval format, gives the portrait a sense of timelessness. It's a reminder of the immense labor involved in image-making before the advent of digital photography. Think about the time and effort required to produce such an image. The photographer not only had to master the technical aspects but also had to create an environment that allowed for the sitter to be comfortable and still. Considering these aspects of labor helps us appreciate the photograph not just as a representation but as a product of human effort, skill, and ingenuity.