fotografiets

Fotografiet is an archaic Dutch noun that historically referred to a photograph, a single image produced by photographic processes. The term appears in older Dutch texts and is now rarely used in everyday language. In modern Dutch, the corresponding terms are foto or fotografie, with fotografiet functioning as a historical or bibliographic label rather than a living everyday word.

Etymology and usage historically connect fotografiet to the broader rise of photography in the 19th century. The word reflects early Dutch attempts to adapt the new technology to the language, often through direct borrowing or calque from French photographie. In archival materials, catalogues, and period newspapers, fotografiet can be found alongside references to daguerreotypes, calotypes, and other early photographic methods. Variants and spellings in older texts include forms that mirror the evolving Dutch orthography of the time.

Today fotografiet is considered obsolete in standard Dutch. It is most likely encountered in historical scholarship, philological dictionaries, or when describing 19th-century documents about early photography. When researching old sources, the term can signal a historical context for the image or the photographic process discussed, rather than a current typographic usage.

In summary, fotografiet denotes a historical notion of a photograph in Dutch literature, reflecting the early language of photography. Its use is confined to archival or scholarly contexts, with contemporary terminology preferring foto or fotografie. The plural form fotografiets is not part of standard modern Dutch usage.