Portret van twee kinderen 1870 - 1900

This photographic print was made by August Döpke, and it captures two children in a formal studio setting. The sepia tones are a direct result of the chemical processes involved in early photography. It’s easy to forget, looking at this image, how radical it would have seemed at the time. The ability to capture a likeness democratized portraiture, which had previously been the domain of painting, available only to the wealthy. Yet, it also created a whole new economy of labor. Photographers had to be skilled not only in composition and lighting, but also in the darkroom techniques required to develop and print images. The stiff poses and formal attire of the children speak to the conventions of the time, but also to the economic realities of sitting for a portrait – a considered luxury for families wanting to capture a moment in time. Looking at this photograph, we can appreciate how the medium itself – with its specific material qualities and labor demands – shaped the way we see and remember the past.