Portret van een man 1866 - 1884

Albert Delabarre made this portrait of a man with photography, a relatively new method in the 19th century. What’s interesting here is the way photography democratized the portrait. Before this, having your likeness recorded was an activity reserved for the wealthy. But as photographic processes were refined, they became faster and more efficient. This meant that portraiture became accessible to the middle classes. You can see how the material qualities of the photograph influence the appearance of the image. The sepia tone is a result of the chemicals used in the developing process. And the slight blur suggests a long exposure time, which would have required the sitter to remain still for several minutes. Notice how the photograph is mounted on card, embellished with a decorative border? This elevates the object, reminding us of traditional painted portrait miniatures. Looking at this object, we might consider how photography changed the labour of portraiture and how it also mirrored the class aspirations of a growing middle class. It’s a great example of how materials, making, and context are all crucial to understanding an artwork’s full meaning.