Portret van een jonge vrouw 1880 - 1910

This is a photograph, presumably made with silver gelatin, by Paul Rummler. The albumen print captures the sitter’s likeness, and it’s also revealing of its own methods of production. In photographic printing, the albumen serves as a binder, adhering the silver salts to the paper, and the smooth surface allows for fine detail. But this one is faded, bearing witness to the passage of time, and to the photograph’s vulnerability as a material object. Its sepia tone evokes a nostalgic feel. Consider the labor involved: not only the photographer's expertise, but also the technicians who prepared the photographic plates, developed the images, and assembled the album. Photography democratized portraiture, making images of loved ones accessible to a broader public. This photograph invites us to appreciate not only the sitter, but also the means of production that brought this image into being.