Portret van een jonge vrouw 1874 - 1887

Albert Greiner made this photograph, 'Portret van een jonge vrouw', using a photographic process sometime in the late 19th century. The portrait presents us with a young woman who appears to be of the middle class. In the Netherlands at this time, photography was becoming more accessible and widespread. Photographic studios emerged in urban centers, offering portraiture services to a growing clientele, mirroring trends across Europe and North America. The woman's attire and hairstyle, including the ornate collar and puffed sleeves, reflect the fashion conventions of the period and provide insight into the socio-economic status of the sitter. Such details in photographs offer a glimpse into the cultural values of the era, revealing aspirations for social mobility and self-expression. The image is now preserved in the Rijksmuseum, an institution which played a role in shaping collective memory through the selection and presentation of cultural artifacts. Through careful analysis of photographic archives we can study how these institutions shaped historical narratives.