Portret van een twee vrouwen 1870 - 1900

This is a photographic portrait of two women, made by Schumann & Heinelt, likely in the late 19th century. The photographic process at this time involved carefully calibrated chemistry and sophisticated optical equipment. The ambrotype, tintype, and albumen print were all dominant techniques, each with a distinctive material presence. Here, we see the sharp detail and tonal range characteristic of these processes. Beyond the technical skill required, portrait photography also played a crucial social role. It democratized image-making, allowing middle-class families to possess likenesses of their loved ones, previously the preserve of the wealthy and painted. This small portrait speaks volumes about the changing social landscape, and the growing importance of image production in everyday life. Thinking about the making and consumption of such objects broadens our understanding of art history, moving beyond the canon of paintings and sculptures to consider the material culture of the everyday.