Portret van een man, mogelijk Alfred Lardenoir of zijn broer, Adolphe Lardenoir Possibly 1863 - 1867

This small photographic print, made by Jules Delsart, captures a man who might be Alfred or Adolphe Lardenoir. The carte-de-visite, or visiting card, was a nineteenth-century phenomenon enabled by innovations in photographic materials and printing. Before, portraiture was reserved for the elite, but now it became a form of mass consumption. The process involved a wet collodion emulsion applied to a glass plate, exposed in the camera, then developed and printed onto albumen paper. The albumen came from egg whites, creating a smooth, glossy surface. The resulting prints were then mounted on card stock. The popularity of the carte-de-visite depended not only on technological advancements but also on the rise of consumer culture. The process democratized image-making, but was also embedded in systems of labor, commerce, and portraiture, becoming more accessible across social classes. The final presentation of the print, mounted on card, also demonstrates how photographic practices were quickly integrated into existing social rituals and customs.