Portret van een meisje 1850 - 1900

This is a portrait of a girl by Ernst Wolffram, made with photographic methods that were new at the time. Photography in the 19th century was as much about chemistry as it was about optics. The sepia tones you see here were the result of a carefully calibrated process, involving silver salts and other light-sensitive compounds. Each print was a small miracle of technology. Consider the labor involved, not just in taking the picture, but in preparing the chemicals, coating the plates, and developing the image, it was a hands-on process from start to finish. The development of photography democratized image-making, but it was still a specialized skill, and each portrait a valued memento. Thinking about photography in terms of its material processes reminds us of the human effort behind every image, and encourages us to consider its social context. Photography was, and remains, a powerful tool for documentation, expression, and remembrance.