Portret van een onbekende vrouw bij een tafel 1851 - 1864

Gustav Schauer made this albumen print of an unknown woman in the mid-19th century. The photograph is evocative, inviting us to consider the sitter's social standing and the norms of the time. The woman's attire and surroundings speak to the conventions of bourgeois portraiture in Europe. Seated in an ornate chair, beside a fireplace adorned with decorative objects, she embodies the values of respectability and domesticity prized during the Victorian era. Made in a studio, this format reflects the rise of photography as a tool for social representation. What’s interesting here is the way an ordinary photograph like this can offer insights into gender roles, class distinctions, and the evolving visual culture of the 19th century. By examining fashion, interior design, and photographic techniques, we can understand the social and institutional contexts that shaped the creation and reception of this image.