Portret van een vrouw in een lange mantel 1858 - 1867

This photograph of a woman in a long cloak was created in the Netherlands by Henri Pronk. The small size of the print indicates that it may have been part of a carte-de-visite, a popular calling card that became fashionable in the mid-nineteenth century. These cards were often traded among friends and acquaintances and collected in albums. The woman’s expensive clothing and relaxed pose are visual indicators of her social standing. During this time, fashion played an important role in signifying status, and the carte-de-visite allowed the expanding middle class to circulate images of themselves that imitated those of the elite. Studios like Pronk's capitalized on this trend, democratizing portraiture while reinforcing social hierarchies. Understanding the social function of images like this requires us to research the history of photography, fashion, and the collecting habits of the Dutch middle class. What can the circulation of such images tell us about social mobility and cultural values during this period?