Portret van een onbekend kind 1874 - 1890

This ‘Portret van een onbekend kind’ was produced by Leon Joliot as a carte-de-visite, a type of small photograph which became popular in the mid-19th century. Before the advent of digital photography, these cards were a common way for individuals to capture and share their likeness with others. The ambrotype, printed on a glass negative, made photography more accessible. A portrait like this one could then be reproduced. Its original owner might have carried it in a wallet, or pasted it into a photo album. The child’s direct gaze confronts the viewer, inviting questions about identity, class, and representation. The delicate lace collar seems to suggest a certain bourgeois status. Yet, the child's expression seems solemn, even melancholy. As viewers, we are left to wonder about this individual's story, their place in a rapidly changing world. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the past and the complex lives of those who came before us.