Moeder van Werner Neufang c. 1900 - 1930

This is an anonymous photographic print, titled "Moeder van Werner Neufang," or Mother of Werner Neufang, whose date is unknown. It’s an arranged page in an album of family photographs. The images are heavy with historical context, reflecting the visual codes and social values of the time in which they were created. This album page, inscribed with the word "Mütter," underscores the central role of women as mothers. We see the mother of Werner, in a simple portrait, then the mother of two boys in a formal family portrait. It speaks volumes about the cultural emphasis on motherhood and family lineage. Understanding the deeper significance of these photographs requires considering the social and institutional contexts in which they were produced and consumed, looking into how they are presented, and preserved. The historian uses family archives, social histories, and cultural studies to illuminate the lives and values of the people represented here.