Portret van een vrouw 1850 - 1881

Editor: Here we have "Portret van een vrouw" – Portrait of a Woman – a gelatin-silver print from somewhere between 1850 and 1881, created by Charles Reutlinger. It has such a stoic feel to it, almost like she’s daring you to look away. How do you read it? Curator: For me, this portrait offers an intriguing window into the evolving relationship between technology, labor, and social status in the 19th century. Consider the materiality of the gelatin-silver print itself. This process democratized portraiture to a degree, moving it away from the exclusive realm of painted portraits enjoyed only by the wealthy. Editor: That’s interesting! So, the means of production changed who had access to art... or photography, in this case. Curator: Precisely. Think about the labor involved: the photographer's skill, the preparation of the materials, and even the sitter’s role in posing and presenting themselves. Reutlinger was a well-known name; this woman probably had to pay a not insignificant amount to be photographed. Her dress, her lace, even her expression--all contribute to constructing an image of middle-class respectability meant for public and familial consumption. Editor: I never really considered photography as something someone consumes. That makes me rethink what I initially considered its stoicism. Curator: Exactly! How the print was consumed is part of the art's creation, its ultimate statement. Now how does thinking about materiality change the way you understand her expression? Editor: Wow. Looking at the materials and production reveals a lot more about class and social status of that time. Thanks for sharing this different perspective! Curator: And thank you. Considering photography as both art and a produced object definitely offers some fascinating layers for thought.