Portret van Cornelia Maria Bon 1895 - 1900

This is an anonymous portrait of Cornelia Maria Bon, made with photography. The photographic process—especially in early forms like this—is deeply entwined with the Industrial Revolution. Photography used relatively new materials and processes, and the results it produced had a profound influence on society. Before photography, portraiture was typically reserved for the wealthy, but figures like Cornelia could now have their likeness captured too. The mass production of photographs democratized image-making, and influenced how we engage with art, memory, and identity. The tools and techniques of photography have been continually shaped by social, political, and economic forces, making images like this one both works of art and documents of a changing world. So, considering the means of production helps us to understand the cultural significance of photography, and its impact on society.