In 2015, “Glass Portraits,” an ambrotype photography exhibition by Matthew Blum, offered a stirring collection of portraits that captured the very essence of each subject using the wet plate collodion process. Dating back to the 1850s, this time-honored technique produces images with a haunting depth and a timeless quality unmatched by digital photography. Every portrait was a one-of-a-kind piece, showcasing not just the subject’s likeness but also the distinctive quirks of the medium—its unpredictability and the fascinating ways it responds to light and chemicals.
Presented in the Alternative Gallery at Artsfest 2015, “Glass Portraits” invited viewers to reflect on the permanence of glass, the fluidity of time, and the profound simplicity of the human face. It served as a powerful reminder of the enduring value of traditional photographic methods, which connect us to history in a tangible, visceral way. Through “Glass Portraits,” Blum not only preserved a nearly lost art form but also breathed new life into it, inspiring contemporary audiences to appreciate the beauty of this old-world craft.