Portret van een zittend meisje 1860 - 1890

Editor: This photograph, “Portret van een zittend meisje,” dating from around 1860 to 1890, is really striking in its formality. I'm curious about the textures, from the dress pattern to what looks like painted props. What are your initial thoughts on the social implications surrounding the making of this photo? Curator: The photographic process itself is crucial here. Think about the labor involved in preparing the chemicals, posing the subject, and producing prints. This wasn’t a readily available consumer product, like today's digital images, but rather, quite laborious and expensive. Who could afford this, and what does it signify about the sitters? Editor: So it was almost a symbol of status to own these kinds of images? Curator: Precisely! The very act of commissioning a portrait speaks to economic standing. Look at the girl’s dress, too – consider the time and resources that would have been invested in that. What raw materials would be used for such a garment, and how are they indicative of social power structures? Editor: So you mean how the textile industry relates to this piece, with possibly mass produced fabrics mimicking higher end designs. It also makes me consider what exactly are we capturing and preserving by engaging in photography. Curator: Yes! Furthermore, think about the power dynamic between the photographer and the sitter. How is the child being directed, and whose vision are we ultimately seeing expressed? Editor: That’s really made me reconsider this piece. Thank you! Curator: It's interesting how focusing on the material conditions of the photo, and labor input opens up these other questions, isn't it?