Collage van zes portretten van onbekende vrouwen en kinderen before 1900

This collage features six portraits of unknown women and children by Oscar Suck. It's made out of different papers, assembled to create a promotional booklet, or perhaps an advertisement. The paper on the left, featuring reversed print, reveals a commercial aspect, likely advertising photographic services or materials. Each portrait is carefully arranged, showcasing Suck's skill in capturing the likeness and mood of his subjects. The choice of paper and printing techniques, such as the photogravure process, was common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for mass-producing photographic images. These materials and processes reflect the era's growing consumer culture and the democratization of portraiture through photography. Suck’s collage represents the labor involved in both artistic creation and commercial promotion. Ultimately, this piece prompts us to consider how photography became accessible to a wider audience, impacting not only art but also social representation and cultural identity.