Portret van een echtpaar 1880 - 1890

Editor: Here we have "Portret van een echtpaar," or "Portrait of a Couple," a photograph by Joseph Maes from between 1880 and 1890. It's quite formal and stiff; what stands out to you? Curator: It's interesting to consider the power dynamics at play in this photograph, particularly concerning gender and representation during that era. Look at the composition. The woman is seated, positioning her as subservient to the standing man. Editor: Yes, I see that now. The way he is slightly behind and taller really emphasizes it. Curator: Exactly. Furthermore, what does it mean to have such formality in dress and pose? How does this connect to societal expectations for couples at that time? Do you think their attire signifies their adherence to social norms? Editor: It definitely feels like it. The elaborate dress of the woman and the man's suit and tie seem intended to convey respectability. Is there any way that photographs such as this one played a part in confirming and spreading expectations and norms? Curator: Absolutely. Portraiture was used to convey an idea of bourgeois existence. Photography offered a means for people to showcase wealth, social standing, and supposed adherence to the Victorian morals, confirming particular kinds of societal structure, gender roles, and social behaviors. Editor: It really makes you think about how much effort went into upholding these ideas and norms. It also makes me consider who was excluded. Curator: Precisely. Analyzing art through an intersectional lens encourages a critical examination of the systems and ideologies. What assumptions might someone viewing this today bring? Editor: That’s an important point. I think I came in viewing it as simply a historical photograph. Now I recognize how important it is to recognize the impact this photograph may have had.