Portret van een zittende vrouw met een muts en (mogelijk) een fotoalbum in de hand 1862 - 1869

This portrait of a seated woman, possibly holding a photo album, was produced by Ch. Binger & Co. using photographic techniques. Photography in this era was a fascinating blend of science and artistry. The albumen print, like this one, involved coating paper with egg white and then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. The resulting print has a distinctive glossy surface and a sepia tone. But it's not just about aesthetics; the rise of photography democratized portraiture. What was once a privilege of the wealthy, rendered in paint, became accessible to a broader segment of society. Consider the labor involved: from preparing the chemicals to posing the sitter and developing the print. Each step required skill and precision. The final product, a small token, encapsulates a moment in time and a shift in social dynamics, challenging traditional notions of art and representation.