Portret van een onbekende vrouw leunend op een stoel 1880

Charles Herbert took this photograph of an unknown woman sometime in the 19th century. These small photographic cards, known as cartes de visite, became hugely popular in Europe and North America, but what do they tell us about society at the time? Looking at the sitter's dress, pose, and the studio setting, we can infer that she belonged to a certain social class with enough money to spend on such things. The rise of photography democratized portraiture to some extent, making images of oneself available to a wider range of people beyond the aristocracy. The carte de visite offered people new ways to present themselves and circulate their image within society. Understanding these images requires us to research photographic history, fashion trends, and social dynamics. What did it mean to have your photograph taken? How was it perceived by different social groups? Through this we can grasp photography's role in shaping social identities during the 19th century.