Portret van de schilder Bernard Pierre Weiser, ten voeten uit 1861

This is a portrait of the painter Bernard Pierre Weiser, made by Joseph Dupont using photographic techniques. The photograph itself, printed on paper, is small, intimate, and meant to be held. The making of this image involves a fascinating interplay of optics, chemistry and social practice. Light is captured and fixed onto a prepared surface, a seemingly magical process made possible by science. This technological achievement must have held a certain amount of wonder at the time. However, it was also labour intensive, requiring skill in both the preparation of materials and the operation of equipment. Consider the social context too: photography was becoming increasingly accessible, providing new opportunities for representation beyond painting. Yet, like portraiture in any medium, it also served to reinforce social hierarchies and class distinctions. Dupont has made a record of an artist, but also an implicit commentary on his status in the world. Understanding the material and its making helps us appreciate the complex social and cultural meanings embedded within this image, challenging any simple divide between art and craft.