Portret van een jonge vrouw 1873 - 1900

Arno Kersten created this portrait of a young woman, probably in Vienna, around 1873. The image is a small mounted photograph, likely part of a larger family album. These kinds of portraits became increasingly popular among the middle classes in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Photography offered a way to record one’s likeness, a practice previously reserved for the wealthy who could commission painted portraits. Kersten’s studio in Vienna would have been one of many catering to this growing demand. The young woman’s attire and hairstyle, though modest, speak to a certain level of social standing. Photography studios often provided props and backdrops to enhance the sitter’s image, reinforcing social norms and aspirations. To fully understand this image, we might consult period fashion magazines, social histories of Vienna, and business records of photography studios to gain a richer understanding of the social and cultural context in which it was made and consumed. Art is always contingent on the culture of its time.