Portret van Jules-Amédée Barbey d'Aurevilly 1889

This portrait of Jules-Amédée Barbey d'Aurevilly was captured anonymously with the marvel of early photography. The photograph's sepia tones and soft focus are not accidents, but the direct results of the light-sensitive chemicals and processes used. Consider the labor involved: from preparing the photographic plates to meticulously controlling exposure times and developing the image. The final print is an object born of both science and artistry, imbued with the social significance of portraiture and status. Photography, still relatively new at this time, democratized image-making, extending it beyond the realm of painting. This shift challenged traditional notions of art, raising questions about skill, authorship, and the value of mechanical versus manual processes. Photography blurred the lines between art and craft, high and low, demanding we reconsider how we define artistic merit and cultural value.