Portret van Frederic Mistral 1867 - 1875

This is a photograph of Frederic Mistral, made by Georges Mathurin Legé. We can see that the image has a sepia tone. This is because it was made using a now obsolete photographic process, most likely the albumen print method, which was a dominant form of photography in the 19th century. This process involves coating paper with a layer of albumen derived from egg whites, followed by a silver nitrate solution. When exposed to light through a negative, the silver salts darken, creating a photographic image. This laborious and alchemical process required careful control of chemical reactions to create a stable image. Looking closely, we see that the photograph has a warm tone with a subtle sheen to it. This is due to the albumen layer, which imparts a distinctive visual quality. The albumen print method, which involves an array of skilled practices, transformed photography from a scientific curiosity to a widely accessible means of portraiture. So, next time you encounter one of these photographs, consider the layers of labor and the history of industrial image-making embedded within it.