Portret van Dootje van Zijll de Jong naast een boom 1930 - 1935

This photograph, 'Portret van Dootje van Zijll de Jong naast een boom', was captured by an anonymous artist using the gelatin silver process. This process involves a photosensitive emulsion of silver halides in gelatin, coated on a support. This one gives a monochrome image with a wide tonal range, allowing for detailed representation. The act of pressing the shutter, developing the negative, and printing the final image, each a step in a process. The final print reflects the light and textures of the original scene, offering a glimpse into a specific moment in time. These photographic processes democratized portraiture, moving it away from the exclusive domain of painting. It became a new medium for capturing everyday life, and new ways of seeing oneself and the world. It's a reminder that even in a seemingly simple image, there's a chain of choices and labor involved, connecting the artwork to wider histories of technology, representation, and the democratization of image-making.