Mansportret 1880 - 1886

This portrait was made anonymously using photographic processes. Although we can’t be sure when it was made, the method used was new at the time. Photography democratized portraiture by using a technology that relied on optics and chemistry rather than skillful handcraft. In the past, portraiture was reserved for the elite but photography made it accessible to the middle classes, like the man in this image. The photograph’s surface has a texture that’s at odds with the subject’s crisp suit and tie, pointing to the labor needed to produce an image. Unlike painting, photography obscures the artist's hand in the production process. Yet, the development process involves chemical manipulation and darkroom techniques which require training and skill. By considering photography’s historical and material context, we can better understand its influence on the wider art world, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.