Portret van een vrouw met halsketting met kruis 1863 - 1867

This is a portrait of a woman with a necklace and cross, made by Adolphus Henry Augustin Wing, likely sometime in the mid-19th century. It’s a photographic print, what was then a relatively new technology, which democratized image-making. Think about the material reality of photography at this time. It was a complex and laborious process, involving coating a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals, exposing it in a camera, and then developing the image. The final print, mounted on card stock, was a precious object, a tangible memento of a person or moment in time. The very act of sitting for a photograph was a social ritual, a performance of identity. In this image, the woman's clothing, jewelry, and hairstyle, speak to her social status and cultural values. The cross on her necklace suggests her religious faith, while the carefully arranged curls of her hair and the delicate lace on her dress convey a sense of refinement and gentility. By considering the materials, processes, and social context of this portrait, we can gain a deeper appreciation for its meaning and significance, moving beyond the traditional boundaries of art history and into the realms of craft, design, and everyday life.