Portret van een staande vrouw 1863 - 1875

This is a portrait of a standing woman, made by G. and R. Lavis. The photograph itself is a remarkable artifact. The image appears on a thin paper card, mass produced with a decorative machine-printed border. This allowed for the quick creation of relatively inexpensive images during the Victorian era. The wet collodion process captured the finest details of light and shadow, resulting in a sharp, sepia-toned image. Consider the materiality of the sitter's attire and surroundings. Her dress, with its ample folds, speaks to the textile industry of the era, the labour involved in its manufacture, and the social status its ownership implied. The carved fireplace and classical bust in the background are props carefully chosen to represent the sitter's social standing. Photographs like these blurred the lines between art, craft, and industry. Understanding the materials, and the processes behind it, helps us appreciate its cultural and historical significance.