Portret van J.G. Jonker Nije 1850 - 1900

This is a photograph of J.G. Jonker Nije, made by Alexandre & Cie in Amsterdam. Think for a moment about photography, not as art, but as manufacture. Like ceramics or textiles, photographic prints were produced in multiples, often by skilled technicians working under the direction of a studio owner. Each print involved a delicate dance of chemistry and light. The process created a unique object, a material record of a moment in time. Consider the surface of this carte-de-visite, it's a paper print mounted on card stock. These were the Victorian era's version of the snapshot, inexpensive keepsakes that captured likeness and conveyed social standing. It’s fascinating to consider how such images democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a broader public, and driving a whole industry of studios like Alexandre & Cie, employing many people to produce these intimate objects at scale. This photograph is a reminder that all images, whether captured by brush or lens, are the result of labor, skill, and material processes, blurring the lines between art, craft, and industry.