A fascinating genre stereo.

Three men are working in a skylight studio. Probably a photographer's studio. The man near the ladder wears a typical artist tunic. He's smoking a pipe. The other two are on the ladder and 'discussing' the paint job. A lot of paint pots and brushes on the ground.
Are they tinting the glass a little blue to reduce exposure time in a new photo studio?

Hand tinted albumen print ca. 8,5 x 17,5
ca. 1860

Rare photographica topic.