Portret van een baby, aangeduid als Louise 1865 - 1900

Editor: Here we have "Portrait of a baby, presumed to be Louise" by Wegner & Mottu, taken sometime between 1865 and 1900. It’s a photograph, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes me is the formality of the scene, and that lacy dress. What's your perspective on this piece? Curator: Well, I immediately think of the materiality involved in creating and circulating this image. Consider the chemistry, the paper, and the labor involved in photographic production during that period. Photography was becoming more accessible, yet still signified a certain status. Editor: So, it’s about more than just the baby in the picture? Curator: Precisely. The materials used, and the way they were produced, are integral to the image’s meaning. The elaborate dress, the ornate chair – they all speak to a certain level of comfort and privilege. This photograph wasn't just a snapshot; it was a carefully constructed representation, likely involving considerable expense in material goods. Who were the likely consumers of photography during this period and where would such an object be displayed or kept? Editor: You're right. The time and effort in that lace alone is quite astonishing! So, thinking about this photograph as a material object embedded in its social and economic context…it tells a different story. Curator: Absolutely! It’s a portrait, but also a material artifact, revealing insights into the production, consumption, and values of the time. It reminds us that art isn't created in a vacuum. Editor: Thank you, I now see additional aspects that I was missing when just seeing the photograph.