Portret van een vrouw 1880 - 1910

Franciscus G. Lukera made this photographic portrait of a woman, printed on paper in a light sepia tone. Photography changed portraiture forever. It democratized the likeness, making it available to a broader public than ever before. It also altered the labor of image-making; instead of months at the easel, one could now capture a sitter in mere seconds. Look closely, and you’ll see the subtle blur, the slight unsteadiness that reminds us of the exposure time required. The result is a fascinating blend of the indexical and the constructed. The woman’s fashionable lace collar and elegant updo are meticulously arranged. But the photograph also captures the fleeting moment of her being, a poignant reminder of time’s passage. It’s a fascinating study of material, process, and social context. It challenges traditional notions of fine art by making visual representation more accessible to the broader population.