Portret van een vrouw 1850 - 1900

Leforgee & Piper created this small portrait of a woman on an unknown date using a photographic process. In the nineteenth century, photography studios like Leforgee & Piper’s emerged as important social and cultural institutions. These businesses democratized portraiture, making it more accessible to the middle classes. The woman's dress and jewelry reflect a certain level of affluence, suggesting a middle-class clientele, who were now able to participate in this kind of visual representation. But beyond acting as records, these portraits were active participants in identity formation and social signalling. Her gaze, directed slightly off to the side, perhaps suggests a sense of forward-looking modernity. To fully appreciate this portrait, we need to investigate the archives of photography studios, the history of fashion, and the social dynamics of the 19th century. By doing so, we can better understand the public role of art and the social conditions that shaped the production of this evocative image.