Portret van een vrouw in een wijde rok met een witte blouse c. 1870 - 1885

C. Perret's photograph "Portret van een vrouw in een wijde rok met een witte blouse" captures a woman in a wide skirt and white blouse, and invites us to consider the conventions of portraiture in its time. Likely taken in Europe during the mid-19th century, the image reflects the rise of photography as a tool for social documentation and personal commemoration. The woman's attire, with its wide skirt, speaks to the fashion norms of the era, influenced by the Industrial Revolution and changing social roles for women. Consider, too, the institutional context: photographic studios emerged as commercial enterprises, shaping how individuals presented themselves to the world. This portrait provides insights into the cultural values and aesthetic preferences of its time. To fully understand this image, one can delve into the photographic archives, fashion magazines, and social histories that help us better understand the visual codes in play. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.