Portret van een onbekende baby, aangeduid als Freddie 1880 - 1913

This small photograph was made by G.A. Vernout in the Dutch city of Haarlem. It is a portrait of a baby, possibly named Freddie. Photographs like this became popular in the late 19th century with the rise of the middle class. Photography studios sprung up in cities all over Europe, offering affordable portraits to a public eager to participate in modern visual culture. The studio is identified on the photograph, which shows us that the artist was an entrepreneur looking to capitalize on a new technology. Consider the stiff pose and formal dress, along with the elaborate chair. These were all carefully chosen to convey a sense of respectability and status. As historians, we can learn from photographs like these about the changing nature of social life and the democratization of portraiture. Looking at studio records and local archives can help us understand Vernout’s business and the role that photography played in constructing identity in Haarlem at the time.