Portret van een echtpaar 1857 - 1864

Editor: This is "Portret van een echtpaar," or Portrait of a Couple, made sometime between 1857 and 1864 by Wegner & Mottu. It’s a gelatin-silver print. It looks quite formal, almost like a painting, with the careful posing. What strikes you about it? Curator: What I see here is a constructed image reflecting the social aspirations of the mid-19th century. Photography was relatively new, so commissioning a portrait was a significant statement. Notice how they've positioned themselves—he is seated, appearing strong and contemplative, while she stands slightly behind, holding a book. Editor: Yes, she seems almost like an afterthought, despite the book suggesting intellect. Curator: Exactly. How does that contrast speak to the gender dynamics of the period, when women's roles were often circumscribed by societal expectations despite a growing literacy? It prompts us to ask: who controlled the narrative and public image of this couple? Was this how they truly perceived themselves, or how they wished to be seen? Editor: It makes you wonder about their real lives behind the formal pose. The man looks rather world-weary, don't you think? And what do you make of their clothing? Curator: Clothing and setting become symbolic tools. The man’s dark suit represents seriousness and social standing. The woman’s dress, though modest, signifies domesticity and perhaps also access to education, even if secondary to her role as a wife. The constructed nature of the photograph highlights how even private images could be performances of social status. Editor: That really changes how I see the photograph. It's less a simple portrait, more a carefully staged declaration. Curator: Precisely! And analyzing these images helps us understand the broader social and cultural values being promoted and perpetuated through visual media at the time. I will never see formal portraits the same again!