Portret van een man in uniform met hoed en zwaard 1860 - 1894

This is a portrait of a man in uniform with hat and sword, made by Ghémar Frères. The albumen silver print process, used to create this photograph, involved coating paper with a layer of egg white and silver nitrate. Once dried, it was exposed to light through a negative, creating a positive image. This technique, popularized in the mid-19th century, demanded precision and skill in controlling the chemical reactions to achieve the desired tonal range and clarity. The photograph’s sepia tones arise from the chemical development process and the material properties of albumen, evoking a sense of nostalgia, a trace of time. The crispness of the uniform’s details and the soft gradations in the man’s face speak to the photographer’s mastery of the medium. Consider the labor involved in preparing the materials, and the careful manipulation required to produce the final print. Understanding this process allows us to move beyond the image itself, revealing the artistry and craft inherent in early photography.