Portret van twee onbekende vrouwen 1863 - 1887

This albumen print of two unknown women was produced by Elliott & Fry in their Baker Street studio in London. The carte-de-visite, as it was known, served as a calling card and a memento, and it became a popular item of exchange among middle-class families in Victorian England. Photography studios such as Elliott & Fry were commercial enterprises, often employing many people in the production of these small portraits. While photographic technology was relatively new at this time, the pose and composition of the portrait reveal the conventions inherited from painting. The women's dark dresses, typical of the time, suggest a certain level of social decorum. As historians, we can examine studio records, newspaper advertisements, and other archival materials to understand better the business of photography and the social aspirations that fueled its popularity. By situating this photograph within its original context, we can begin to appreciate how it reflected and shaped the visual culture of its time.