Portrait of Robert Koehler c. 1907

This photographic portrait of Robert Koehler was made by Sweet Studios, sometime between 1890 and 1930. Photography, as a technology, was from its inception deeply tied to capitalism and industrialization. From the mass production of cameras and photographic materials, to the rise of commercial portrait studios, photography democratized image-making. Here, we see the German-American painter Robert Koehler holding his tools: brushes and a palette loaded with paint. The photograph captures not just his likeness but also his profession, immortalizing the artist through a relatively new medium. By choosing photography, Koehler or the studio acknowledged its power as a tool for documentation, and self-promotion. The tonal range of the print, achieved through chemical processes and careful manipulation, adds depth and texture, emphasizing the material quality of the image itself. This portrait serves as a compelling example of how photography blurred the lines between art, craft, and commercial enterprise, challenging traditional notions of artistic skill.