Portret van een echtpaar 1860 - 1880

This portrait of a couple was created by De Lavieter & Co using photographic methods. Though undated, it likely comes from the late nineteenth century in the Netherlands, given the studio's location. In this period, photography became increasingly accessible, yet formal portraits such as this one retained a symbolic weight, representing social status and permanence. The couple's attire, his suit and her dark dress with lace, speak to middle-class aspirations. Their positioning on what appears to be a balcony suggests a carefully constructed image of domesticity and social standing. The very act of commissioning such a portrait underscores the growing importance of visual representation in defining personal and familial identity. Understanding this image requires that we consider the broader social and economic context, including the rise of the middle class and the evolving role of photography within it. Museum archives, genealogical records, and studies of photographic practices in the Netherlands would all offer additional context.