Portret van een meisje, staand bij een tafel 1863 - 1883

Elias Gottheil made this photograph of a girl standing by a table. It’s a small, carefully arranged portrait, probably taken in the mid-19th century. The girl is dressed in a nice dress and stands on a little stool. The table and drapery behind her suggest a photographer's studio. In the 19th century, photography became a popular way for middle-class families to record images of themselves. Photography studios sprung up in many cities. This image offers a glimpse into the social history of the time, showing how new technologies changed the way people saw themselves and their place in society. The democratization of portraiture changed the function of art and the social rituals around displaying likenesses. By studying photographs like this, and researching photographers like Gottheil, we can learn more about the changing role of art in the modern era.