Portret van een vrouw 1877 - 1900

This is a photograph, "Portret van een vrouw", likely made in the late 19th or early 20th century by B.J. Pottjewijd. The photograph is small, only 81 by 52 mm, and it's mounted on card stock, a popular format for affordable portraiture at the time. The subject's clothing is worth noting. The ruffled collar and velvet bow suggest some level of economic comfort, but the overall impression is one of practicality. Photography in this period was becoming more accessible, yet it was still a considered purchase, a way for the emerging middle class to document their existence. The photographic process itself—the careful posing, the long exposure times, the developing of the image—imparted a certain gravity to the subject. This wasn't just a snapshot; it was a carefully constructed representation of self, made possible by advances in chemistry, optics, and the industrial production of photographic materials. The photograph serves as a reminder of the democratization of portraiture and the intersection of technology, labor, and the everyday lives of ordinary people.