Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1855 - 1885

This is a photograph of an unknown woman, made by Constantin et Cie. Photographic studios boomed in the second half of the nineteenth century, offering a new way to record one's likeness. Before this, portraits were only available to the wealthy, but now, the middle classes also had the opportunity to present themselves to posterity. Looking at the woman’s dress and the ornately carved chair, we can guess she was relatively well off. But who was she? And what was her place in society? It’s difficult to say without further research. This is where the social historian comes in. By looking at census records, newspaper articles, and other historical documents, we can begin to piece together the lives of ordinary people and understand the social forces that shaped their world. Art always reflects the time and place in which it was made, and can tell us a great deal about the society that produced it.