Portret van een jonge vrouw 1882 - 1895

This photographic portrait of a young woman was made by Charles Jacotin sometime between 1863 and 1895. As a photographic image, it relies on a chemical process involving light-sensitive materials, lenses, and a darkroom for development. The tonal range, the stillness of the subject, and the oval vignette are all characteristic of photography at this time. What is interesting, though, is the way the print has been mounted into what would have been a mass-produced album. Here, the photograph is not just an image, but an object embedded in a larger social context. The embossed and gilded album speaks to the burgeoning consumer culture of the late 19th century. The image itself reflects a desire for personal commemoration and display. The photograph and album were technologies of self-representation, affordable luxuries that allowed individuals to craft and curate their identities for themselves and their families. This extends the traditional definition of art to include new media and their impact on self and society.