Portret van een onbekend bruidspaar c. 1873 - 1906

Max Büttinghausen produced this cabinet card photograph of an unknown bridal couple sometime in the late nineteenth century. This carefully posed image, likely taken in a studio, offers us insights into the social conventions of the time, particularly around marriage. The couple's formal attire signifies the solemnity of the occasion and reflects the era's emphasis on social status and respectability. In the Netherlands, as elsewhere in Europe, the late 1800s was a period of strict social norms where marriage was seen as a cornerstone of society and a vital economic institution. The bouquet, veil, and formal suit are visual cues that would have been instantly recognizable to viewers at the time. Understanding this image requires us to research the material culture of wedding ceremonies during this period, looking at etiquette manuals, fashion plates, and other photographic examples. Only through historical investigation can we begin to appreciate the social world that shaped this seemingly simple portrait.