Portret van een vrouw met paraplu in de hand, staand bij een stoel 1860 - 1900

This photograph by Ortolani captures a woman with an umbrella, likely taken in the late 19th century when photography was becoming more accessible to the middle class. It's an interesting look at how social status was carefully constructed and displayed through portraiture. Consider the sitter's clothing; the dark, elaborate dress and lace veil speak to a certain level of economic comfort and adherence to social norms of the time. The umbrella itself might be read as a symbol of respectability, shielding the woman from the sun and implying she doesn't have to engage in manual labor. The furniture suggests an opulent studio setting, reinforcing this image of a refined, respectable woman. As historians, we must consider the institutions and norms that shape such images. Photography studios, for instance, played a vital role in shaping social identities. To better understand this image, we might look into fashion trends of the time, photographic studio practices, and the social history of the middle class. The meaning of art and its creation is always bound to its social and institutional context.