Vrouw met drie weken oude baby Gerard op een veranda c. 1910 - 1920

This photographic print, made by Augusta Curiel, shows a woman holding a three-week-old baby on a veranda. The material of the photographic print itself is key here. Photography emerged in the 19th century as a confluence of chemistry, optics, and industrial production. It democratized portraiture, making images of loved ones accessible to a broader public. Curiel's choice of photography reflects a move away from traditional art forms, embracing a technology that could capture reality with unprecedented accuracy. Her work resonates with larger themes of labor and the changing social landscape. The act of photographing, printing, and distributing images became a form of labor itself, a means of production that transformed how we perceive and document the world. Curiel’s work challenges conventional notions of fine art, highlighting the cultural significance embedded in everyday materials and processes.