Portret van een jonge vrouw 1864 - 1867

Alfred Hugh Harman made this portrait of a young woman using photography, a relatively new and increasingly popular medium in the late 19th century. The photograph's material presence is striking: the glossy sheen of the print, and the ornate metal frame, all speak to the burgeoning consumer culture of the time. Photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider segment of society beyond the elite who could afford painted portraits. Yet, the very act of commissioning a photograph, of sitting for it, involved labor – the photographer's expertise, the sitter's time, and the resources required to produce the image. Consider the skilled labor involved in creating not just the photograph but the metal frame. The mass production and consumption of such items were tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and economics. Recognizing photography as a blend of art, craft, and industry allows us to appreciate its full cultural significance.