Portret van een vrouw 1859 - 1870

Curator: This striking albumen print, known as "Portret van een vrouw," is estimated to have been produced between 1859 and 1870. Editor: There's a captivating stillness to it, isn't there? The oval frame creates a sense of contained composure, while her direct gaze is quite arresting. It is also evocative, since there must have been substantial labor into producing a single print like that one! Curator: Indeed. What we see is heavily influenced by the rise of photography studios that democratized portraiture during the mid-19th century. Suddenly, posing for a painted portrait wasn’t solely for the wealthy. This made such photographic images become cultural artifacts. Editor: It also allowed middle-class consumer aspirations to soar to an unimaginable place. I’m interested in the technical elements here too. An albumen print uses egg whites to bind the photographic chemicals to the paper. This made it a dominant process, especially regarding the nuances created in tonal range. Curator: It's also interesting to note the symbolism. The chair she is leaning on looks ornamental. As photography emerged, the style choices—the clothing, the backdrop, and even this chair—were designed to convey respectability, a vital signifier in Victorian society. Editor: Looking at the dress, the lace trim suggests detail in materiality. And think of the social conditions and available tools when crafting the textiles, not to mention what women were allowed or forced to wear in such photographs. What kind of constraints and possibilities were available in that era? Curator: It highlights how photography both reflected and shaped the societal ideals and public personas of the era. These carefully curated images offer powerful clues, but the reality behind the constructed image must be significantly more diverse. Editor: It makes me appreciate how tangible photographs of the period really are. It makes one stop and think about how many people must have touched and looked at this piece. It's very moving to hold it for that reason.