Portret van een baby c. 1900

This portrait of a baby was made by Roelof Pieters Lammers, likely with a glass plate camera and darkroom processing, reflecting the late 19th-century photographic techniques. The subject is carefully posed against what appears to be an exotic animal skin, suggesting a controlled studio environment. The photograph's material qualities are central to its meaning. The sepia tones, the paper's texture, and the sharp focus speak to the photographer's skill in managing light and chemistry. But beyond that, the image also speaks volumes about the social context of its time. The very act of commissioning a photograph speaks of middle-class aspirations, where the ability to freeze a moment in time became a symbol of status and sentimental value. Ultimately, Lammers' work invites us to consider how even the most seemingly straightforward portraits are deeply intertwined with the materials, processes, and social values of their time. It reminds us that photographs, like any other crafted object, are not neutral recordings, but complex cultural artifacts.