Portret van Jacob Wertheim, schoonzoon van de fotograaf c. 1854 - 1855

Eduard Isaac Asser created this photograph of Jacob Wertheim, his son-in-law, in the Netherlands, at a time when photography was rapidly evolving as both an artistic medium and a tool for social documentation. The portrait presents Wertheim in a composed, seated pose, indicative of the sitter's social standing and the conventions of 19th-century portraiture. The image’s sepia tones and the subject’s attire – his suit, bow tie, and the pocket watch chain – reflect the fashion and social mores of the period. But what did it mean to have your photograph taken at this time? Photography in the 1800s was becoming increasingly accessible, yet it remained a practice often associated with the middle and upper classes. These images, therefore, provide valuable insights into the self-representation of these groups and their values. To fully understand this photograph, we might delve into Asser’s personal history, examining his role within the burgeoning photographic community in the Netherlands. Understanding the social and economic context of the time enriches our appreciation of this image as a cultural artifact.