Portret van twee meisjes 1880 - 1920

This small photographic print, titled ‘Portret van twee meisjes’ or ‘Portrait of two girls’, was made by J.J. Gull. Looking at the image, it's important to think about the role photography played in constructing and reflecting social identities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The formal poses, matching dresses, and lace collars suggest this image may have been commissioned by a middle-class family to signal respectability and social status. The photograph is more than a simple record. It actively participates in shaping cultural norms and expectations. To understand this image better, we can delve into the history of photography as a social practice, looking at the rise of portrait studios, the conventions of posing, and the changing ideas about childhood and family. This is how we begin to understand the public role of art. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.