Portret van een staande vrouw 1860 - 1880

This standing portrait of a woman was created by Baron & Mitkiewicz with the photographic process. The woman, centered in the composition, is depicted in muted sepia tones, enhancing the formality and stillness of the image. Her dress, with its delicate lace and intricate embroidery, cascades around her, forming a wide, almost architectural base. The structural symmetry of her posture and attire is notable; it suggests a careful arrangement designed to convey dignity and poise. The composition balances the softness of the fabrics with the rigid geometry of the photographic frame, creating a tension between the ephemeral nature of the subject and the enduring quality of the medium. Consider how the subtle gradations of light and shadow model her figure, giving volume and depth to what is essentially a flat surface. This manipulation of light is crucial, not just for aesthetic purposes, but also as a means of encoding societal values and ideals about representation and identity in the 19th century.