Portret van Cora Hill 1870 - 1872

J.B. Jasper captured this photographic portrait of Cora Hill, rendered in a modest size, sometime in the late 19th century. In the Netherlands during this era, photography studios proliferated, democratizing portraiture but also shaping social expectations through standardized poses and backdrops. Cora's attire – the ribbon around her neck, her elegant updo – speaks to middle-class aspirations and the formalization of social identity through visual representation. The oval frame further lends an air of classicism, aligning the sitter with established artistic traditions. Yet, this photograph is also a unique historical document. Who was Cora Hill? What was her place in Dutch society? The answers lie in archival records, genealogical research, and the study of photographic practices of the time. It reminds us that art is a product of its time, shaped by the institutions, technologies, and social forces that define its creation.