Portret van een jongen met kruiwagen 1850 - 1890

This photograph of a boy with a wheelbarrow was made by Johann Heinrich Martin Bosse in the Netherlands, sometime in the late 19th century. Looking at this small image, we see a child dressed in sailor's clothes, which was fashionable at the time for both boys and girls, posed formally, with a wheelbarrow. Is this some kind of social commentary? Possibly. But, it's more likely a simple portrait of a privileged child. In the 19th century, the rise of photography democratized portraiture. But consider the institutional aspects: Who could afford to have their picture taken? Who was excluded? The visual codes here tell us much about class and childhood. As historians, we must consider the social conditions that shape artistic production. Researching photographic studios and family archives of the era might reveal more about the sitter's social status. The meaning of this image is contingent on its social and institutional context, rewarding close historical investigation.