Portret van een vrouw met halsketting 1876 - 1900

This portrait of a woman with a necklace, of unknown date, was made by Friedrich Julius von Kolkow. It's a photographic print, mounted within an album page. The albumen print process, popular in the 19th century, involved coating paper with albumen from egg whites, then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. The result is a smooth surface ideal for capturing fine details. Considering the labor involved – from raising chickens to meticulously coating and printing each photograph – the mass production of these images reflects a new era of industrial possibility. The photograph’s sepia tone results from the developing process, where silver particles are deposited to create the image. The tones, textures, and even the pose and costume of the sitter, all speak to a particular moment in history, now captured as a commodity. By examining photography through its materials and production, we can appreciate its complex cultural meaning, connecting the artistry to broader issues of labor, class, and consumption.