Portret van een vrouw 1888 - 1900

This is Wilhelmus Johannes van Pampus's photographic portrait of a woman. It was made in the Netherlands at the turn of the twentieth century. Photography at this time was becoming more widespread. Although still a cumbersome and expensive process, the advent of smaller cameras and easier developing processes meant that taking portraits became accessible to a wider range of society. The sober dress, carefully arranged hair, and formal pose situate the sitter within the conventions of middle-class Dutch society. The cross necklace might indicate her religious affiliation, while the quality of the print speaks to the professional aspirations of the photographer. To understand the picture better, we might consult census records, newspapers, and local archives to discover more about the sitter, the photographer, and the cultural institutions that supported their work. This helps us understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production at this time.