Portret van een onbekende vrouw, aangeduid als Dolley, reclame voor Orion W. Lemer 1895 - 1910

This is a photograph of an unknown woman, possibly named "Dolley," by Léopold Reutlinger, likely produced in France during the late 19th or early 20th century. The image was used as an advertisement for Orion W. Lemer, a manufacturer, though of what is not specified. The photograph itself presents a highly constructed image of femininity. Note the woman's elaborate dress, jewelry, and carefully arranged hair. These visual elements tell us about the social status being conveyed here. Consider the rise of advertising during this period and the ways in which idealized images of beauty and elegance were used to sell products. The photograph exists at the intersection of commercial culture, photographic portraiture, and the construction of gender. To fully understand the cultural significance of this image, one could research the history of advertising in France. Resources in the history of photography and gender studies would be invaluable in understanding the multiple layers of meaning embedded within it.