Portret van een staande vrouw in Roemeense klederdracht 1870 - 1890

This portrait of a woman in Romanian dress was made by Carol Popp de Szathmari sometime in the 19th century, using photography. Now, photography has always been tied to industry, demanding specific materials, and chemical processes. But it also intersects with craft. In this case, notice how carefully the image has been hand-mounted into an album. This is not just a snapshot, but a carefully considered presentation. Consider too, the woman's costume. The embroidery has clearly been made by hand, stitch by stitch, an enormous investment of labor. Although this photograph flattens the costume into a two-dimensional image, we should remember it as a complex, tactile object. As you look at this image, think about the different kinds of work that went into its making, from the industrial production of photographic materials, to the patient needlework of the dress. It’s a blend of technology and handcraft.