Portret van een (vermoedelijk) Franse militair, staand in uniform met tressen before 1875

This photograph of a French military man, likely taken in the mid-19th century by Bruno Braquehais, reminds us that photography, in its early days, was as much a craft as an art. Consider the process: a glass plate meticulously coated with light-sensitive emulsion, a long exposure time requiring the subject to remain perfectly still, and then the careful development and printing. This wasn't just pointing and shooting; it was a labor-intensive process. And look at the details captured: the crisp lines of the uniform, the intricate braiding, and the buttons. All speak to the skilled labor involved in producing military garments. The photograph aestheticizes military attire, yet hints at the vast material culture and economic systems that were set in motion to produce the items of dress. Thinking about this image, therefore, invites us to consider the social context and the hands that shaped both the subject's attire and the image itself. It is a reminder that every photograph, like every object, carries within it a story of making.