Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1854 - 1889

This photograph of an unknown woman was made in France by André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri. Disdéri was a master of the carte-de-visite, a small photograph mounted on card stock that became incredibly popular in the mid-19th century. The rise of photography democratized portraiture. No longer was it only the wealthy who could afford to have their likeness preserved. The carte-de-visite became a social phenomenon, a way for people to collect and exchange images of themselves and their loved ones, and even celebrities and royalty. Disdéri himself gained fame for photographing Napoleon III. The format also had implications for how people saw themselves and others. The woman in this portrait is well dressed, and although we don't know her name, the photograph suggests she was part of a rising middle class, eager to participate in modern life. By examining studio records, fashion plates, and social histories, we can begin to understand the cultural significance of these seemingly simple portraits.