Portret van een vrouw 1865 - 1903

De Lavieter & Co. created this small portrait of a woman using photographic methods which were gaining popularity as a way to record likenesses. During the nineteenth century, photography studios emerged as important cultural institutions, democratizing portraiture by making it accessible to a wider segment of the population than traditional painted portraits. This image offers insights into the sitter's social standing and the visual codes of the time. Her elaborate hairstyle, refined attire, and the very act of commissioning a portrait suggest a degree of affluence. The image signifies middle class values of self-presentation. To gain a deeper understanding of the historical context, one might explore archives of photography studios, fashion plates, and social histories of the era. This can reveal the complex interplay between art, commerce, and social identity in the nineteenth century.