A wonderful and funny portrait of an actor (possibly comedian Emile Gabel) made by the Belgian photographer Joseph Dupont.

Between 1859 and 1874 he shad a studio at Place de Meir, 32 in Antwerp. "Studio founded in 1853" is mentioned on the verso.
He became photographer to the King in 1866. "M. Dupont does not have an operator. All the negatives of the prints which he has exhibited were taken by himself" (Paris, 1867). Founder member of the ABP.
Dupont learned the profession of photographer from Alphonse Plumier and took over the Antwerp studio from him in 1855. J. Dupont published a popular cdv series of contemporary artists : "L'Ecole d'Anvers".

Albumen print in good condition. Unusual pose for ca. 1865.

More about Joseph A.F. Dupont in the publication: "... door de enkele werking van het licht ...", Jan Coppens, Laurent Roosens en Karel van Deuren (Gemeentekrediet 1989).