Portret van een onbekende man en vrouw in klederdracht before 1900

This photographic portrait of an unknown man and woman in traditional dress was made by W. de Ringh. The black and white medium is critical here. This was a very different proposition from painting a portrait, which only the wealthy could afford, making photography an accessible means of recording likeness. Though seemingly straightforward, photography is labor intensive. From posing the sitters to developing the image using chemical processes, it’s important to consider the photographer’s expertise. Here, the subjects are presented in the studio, in clear focus. The production of photographs like these became a growing industry at the time. Consider that photography democratized portraiture, but it was still a business, and a skilled trade. Thinking about those layers of social and material history gives this image even greater depth.