Portret van een vrouw 1881 - 1901

This is a photographic portrait of a woman, made by the Cordes Brothers. Photography, even at this small scale, was a fairly involved process. The final print belies the amount of work involved in its production. We can consider the labor required to prepare the photographic materials, operate the camera, and develop the image. In the absence of a date, the woman’s clothing offers some clues. Her elaborately ornamented dress indicates a certain degree of affluence. The lace or embroidered detailing would have involved considerable handwork, whether done by the wearer herself or a hired seamstress. It’s likely she had this portrait taken to mark a special occasion, or to present herself in a particular light. Considering the convergence of technology, fashion, and social status evident in this portrait, it reminds us that every image—even one as seemingly straightforward as this—is the product of many hands, processes, and cultural forces.