Portret van een gezin c. 1895 - 1905

This photographic portrait of a family was made by Johannes Christiaan Coenraad Witte, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It’s a relatively straightforward example of the photographer's art – setting up a composition, lighting it, and capturing an image on a sensitized plate. But look closely, and you’ll start to see the social forces at play. This is not just a candid snapshot, but a carefully constructed image designed to convey the family's social standing and aspirations. The sitters’ garments, for example, speak to the labor involved in their making, and the family’s ability to afford them. The mother’s elaborate dress and the son’s tailored sailor suit denote significant expense and social standing. Consider also the setting, carefully arranged to suggest a comfortable domesticity. Ultimately, this photograph reminds us that even the most seemingly objective images are deeply embedded in the social and economic realities of their time, and that understanding the materials and making of an artwork is key to unlocking its deeper meanings.