Dubbelportret van een militair met zijn vrouw c. 1890 - 1900

This double portrait of a military man and his wife was made by L.M. de Rijk, a photographer working in Utrecht. What’s interesting here is the meeting of social worlds that photographic portraiture represents. In this case, we see the rigid, formalized conventions of military life, which have impacted on the man’s immaculate uniform and erect posture. That contrasts quite markedly with the softness of his wife’s ruffled lace collar and sleeves, and the slight turn of her head. It's important to remember that even seemingly straightforward photographs like this one are actually highly constructed. The backdrop, the props, the poses, are all carefully chosen to convey a certain message about the sitters. In this case, we see a couple presenting themselves as respectable and prosperous. The very act of commissioning a portrait like this was a statement of social standing. These images are also products of labor, from the photographer, and the studio assistants, to the clothing makers. By looking closely, we can begin to unpack the complex social and economic forces that shaped this seemingly simple image.