Portret van Mr. Norbert Petrus van den Berg achter zijn bureau in zijn werkkamer op Turfmarkt 3, Amsterdam

Hendrik Herman van den Berg made this photographic print, using gelatin silver process. At first glance, it is tempting to view this as a straightforward depiction of a well-to-do man in his study. But let’s think about the social context of photography at the time. The gelatin silver process, which involves coating paper with light-sensitive chemicals, was becoming increasingly accessible. This meant that portraiture, once the exclusive domain of painting, was now available to a wider segment of society. The very act of commissioning a photograph speaks volumes about Norbert Petrus van den Berg’s desire to participate in this new form of visual representation. Consider the labor involved, from the photographer’s technical skill to the production of photographic materials. In this way, the photograph captures a moment of social and technological transition, blurring the lines between fine art and everyday documentation.