Portret van een jongen 1866 - 1870

This is a photograph, "Portret van een jongen," made by J. Wijnman, who was born in 1844. Though we don't have the precise date of the image, it is likely from the later 19th century, judging by its material qualities. The photograph itself is a chemical concoction, of course. Emulsions of silver halide were painstakingly prepared and applied to a backing of paper or glass. This was then exposed to light and developed using a variety of noxious chemicals, whose recipes were closely guarded secrets at the time. Photography was new then, still a mysterious process involving optics, chemistry and the skilled labor of the photographer. Considered in this light, photography was in fact the height of technological sophistication. But it was also a profoundly democratic medium, allowing for unprecedented access to portraiture, not just for the wealthy, but for the rising middle classes as well. By looking closely at the material reality of this image, we can appreciate how profoundly photography changed social relations, art, and the very concept of representation.