Portret van een meisje, zittend op een tafel met haar voeten rustend op een boek, aangeduid als Alix 1881 - 1888

This photograph, made by Jean B. van Hoeter, captures a young girl, likely named Alix, seated on a table. The sepia tones suggest it was created using early photographic processes, perhaps albumen prints which came into fashion in the 1850s. What strikes me is how the material qualities of photography democratized portraiture. In earlier times, only the wealthy could afford painted portraits, but the rise of photography allowed the middle class to capture their likenesses. It’s as if the artist is saying that access to image-making should be considered for a wider social stratum. The girl's pose, with her feet resting on a book, feels staged, yet there's a certain intimacy. The tonal range, from the dark backdrop to the delicate lace of her dress, speaks to the alchemical processes involved in creating a photographic print. Photography, therefore, represents the intersection of technology, social change, and artistic expression. It challenges our traditional notions of art, opening up image-making to a broader audience.