Portret van een onbekende vrouw met muts 1857 - 1868

Christaan Marcussen made this small photograph of an unknown woman sometime in the mid-19th century. Photography was a new and exciting medium during this period, rapidly changing the social function of portraiture. Looking at this image, we can learn not only about the sitter but also about the cultural context of the time. Her clothing, especially the muts, can offer insights into regional customs and social status in the Netherlands. This woman is probably middle class. The use of photography itself speaks to broader shifts in representation. It became easier for people to commission portraits, to capture their likeness and project an image of themselves. As historians, we can delve into archives, fashion history, and local records to discover more about this woman's life and social milieu. We might look at the records of Marcussen's photographic studio, and consider the networks through which the business operated. In doing so, we acknowledge that art is always entangled with the social structures of its time.