Portret van een baby, aangeduid als Werner von Holtzendorff Falkenburg 1894

This photograph by Franz Meinke presents a portrait of a baby, identified as Werner von Holtzendorff Falkenburg. In nineteenth-century Europe, the rise of photography coincided with changing social attitudes towards children, particularly within the middle and upper classes. No longer viewed simply as miniature adults, children became emblems of innocence and vulnerability, worthy of protection and sentimental affection. Photography offered a new means of capturing and preserving these fleeting moments of childhood, solidifying family bonds, and creating lasting mementos. Studios sprung up catering to the increasing demand for portraiture. Understanding the cultural context enriches our appreciation of this seemingly simple image. By exploring the history of childhood, the development of photography, and the social dynamics of the time, we gain a deeper understanding of the photograph's significance as a social and cultural artifact.