Portret van een vrouw bij een vaas met bloemen 1856 - 1865

This photographic print of a woman by Maull & Polyblank offers a fascinating glimpse into the social conventions of its time. Likely produced in England during the mid-19th century, the portrait reflects the era's emphasis on decorum and the display of social status. The woman’s elaborate dress, complete with its voluminous skirt, speaks to the economic capacity required to maintain such attire. The vase of flowers, a conventional prop, adds to the overall sense of refinement and cultivated taste. The absence of overt emotion or dynamic posing is typical of Victorian portraiture, underscoring the subject's respectability. In its own way, this photographic print normalizes particular codes of class and gender. Understanding this portrait requires us to consider the burgeoning culture of photography in the 19th century. The carte-de-visite became a popular means for individuals to participate in visual culture, but these images were also used by institutions to classify individuals. As historians, we must delve into photographic archives and social histories to understand the power dynamics at play in seemingly simple images.