Portret van een man met bril 1890 - 1898

This photograph, "Portret van een man met bril" was made by J.W. Wentzel using a photographic process that was becoming increasingly popular and accessible during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The sepia tone, a result of the chemical development process, lends the image a sense of nostalgia, while the ornate decorative frame, likely mass-produced, reflects the era's aesthetic sensibilities and growing industrialization. The subject’s formal attire and confident pose suggest a middle-class status, indicative of a society where photography was no longer solely the domain of the elite. Consider the labor involved: from the photographer operating the equipment and processing the image, to the workers manufacturing the frame. Even the subject’s clothing represents the labor of textile workers and tailors. By examining the materials and processes of this photograph, we gain insight into the social and cultural context of its creation, highlighting the intricate connections between art, industry, and society.