Portret van Fidès Devries 1870 - 1880

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to this albumen print photograph, "Portret van Fidès Devries", dating from somewhere between 1870 and 1880, captured by Charles Reutlinger. It is currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first thought is how wonderfully staged it feels. The sepia tones lend a nostalgic air, and the subject’s pose…almost deliberately composed, isn’t it? Curator: Precisely! The staging is very telling of the era’s portrait photography, the goal of these studio portraits was often about presenting a very specific version of yourself to society. Here, Mademoiselle Devries is elegantly leaning on the table next to her with a very restrained stance, but notice her fashionable dress and the book in her hands? Editor: Yes, the composition draws you to her garments—and those long braids! Such a pronounced braid emphasizes the vertical lines, offset by the small horizontal book. Her fair skin tones are echoed in the light from the right-hand corner too; it’s masterfully subtle, guiding your eye. Curator: That book acts as an indicator of intellect and status in that period. Photography was becoming more widespread, democratizing portraiture, but conventions still played a crucial role in shaping the narratives being told through images like this one. What seems to be spontaneous can often reveal those underlying values. Editor: I agree—it feels very deliberate. Also the textures of her dress, the slight blur suggests a relatively long exposure time, it is almost a painting but one that you know it had been staged, not like one from real life! Curator: A very interesting perspective to have. Her clothing clearly speaks to both her socio-economic position and likely even some subtle expressions of personal values given the cut and adornments that are somewhat restrained. Editor: Considering the level of control, even down to posing, it's remarkable how expressive it is. Curator: Well, thinking about how posed the entire set-up had to be can inform on social contexts too, just a tiny portion to open a whole dimension from which to approach.