Portret van Nel Waller-De Cock c. 1886 - 1906

Editor: Here we have "Portret van Nel Waller-De Cock," a photographic portrait created sometime between 1886 and 1906 by Max Büttinghausen. It's a rather serene image, though somewhat faded with age. What draws your attention when you look at this piece? Curator: The first thing that strikes me is the materiality of the photograph itself. It is not just an image but a manufactured object, conceived of, created, distributed, and consumed. Looking at the framing, you have a strong sense of bourgeois conventions. Editor: Interesting. So, beyond the subject matter, you're focusing on the… production process and social implications? Curator: Exactly. Photography in this era was rapidly becoming more accessible, and portraits like these allowed a growing middle class to participate in practices previously reserved for the wealthy who had commissioned paintings. What is this portrait saying about Nel Waller-De Cock’s own status, about access to material objects in a changing Dutch society? How would such materials as chemicals affect labor and health standards? These considerations move beyond just the likeness of the sitter. Editor: That’s a fascinating way to consider it. I hadn't thought about the broader impact and changing social structure like that. It puts it into a whole different context. Curator: Consider also the labor involved, not just in taking the photograph, but in creating the chemicals, the paper, and the framing. These all represent networks of production and consumption that underpin the image itself. Editor: I’m starting to see how deeply interconnected art, material, and society can be. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: My pleasure. Now you'll always look at material production with more consideration.