Portret van een onbekende man 1877 - 1897

This is "Portret van een onbekende man," made by Lodewijk Hendrikus Serré, a calling card format photograph from the late 19th century. These card photographs were produced through a complex chemical process, using glass plate negatives and light-sensitive paper. This particular example has a sepia tone, achieved through the use of specific developing agents. The small scale and reproducible nature of these photographs made them extremely popular, a Victorian form of social media if you will. The labor involved in photography is often overlooked. Beyond the artist, there were those who prepared the chemicals, printed the images, and even mined the materials for the photographic process. The rise of photography also parallels the rise of capitalism. These images served as a form of personal branding, a way to project a desired image to the world. In understanding this image, it is vital to consider the complex processes and social context in which it was made.