Portret van een man met baard 1875 - 1885

This oval portrait of a bearded man is a photographic print by Eugene Guérin, though we don’t know the exact date it was made. In the latter half of the 19th century, photography became more widespread, and portraiture moved from the domain of painting to this new medium. Photography studios popped up everywhere, offering affordable ways for the rising middle class to immortalize themselves and their loved ones. Consider the rise of photography as part of a broader shift in the social role of art. Once, portraiture was something reserved for royalty and the aristocracy. Now, it was accessible to a wider range of society. To understand more about this shift, we can delve into archives from photography studios, exploring the business models, marketing strategies, and clientele that shaped the industry. We might also explore family albums and personal collections, uncovering stories of the people who posed for these portraits and the cultural meanings they attached to them.