Portret van een staande vrouw bij een stoel 1860 - 1886

This photograph, "Portret van een staande vrouw bij een stoel", was made by Valentin Joan Frescarode. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the social conventions of the 19th century. The woman’s formal attire, combined with the interior backdrop, tells us something about the self-presentation expected at the time. What is also interesting is the rise of photography itself as a democratizing force. As photographic processes became more accessible, portraiture was no longer the exclusive preserve of the wealthy who could afford painted portraits. Here we might consider institutions such as photographic studios. To understand this image better, research into the history of photography, and the dress codes and social norms of the time, would all be relevant. The meaning of a work of art is always shaped by its historical context.