Portret van een vrouw 1896 - 1900

This is a photographic portrait of a woman, made by Ritscher & Landsman. We don't know when it was made, but the aesthetic suggests the late 19th or early 20th century. The image’s sepia tone is the direct result of the chemical processes involved in early photography. It was carefully posed and framed to capture an idealized image of femininity and grace. Consider the social context: photography democratized portraiture, once only available to the wealthy through painting. Studios like Ritscher & Landsman made images accessible to a broader public. The photographer's expertise lies not only in capturing likeness but also in carefully managing the entire chemical process. The production of the image involved a unique set of skills, with the studio playing a crucial role in shaping the subject's identity and place in society. By attending to the materiality and the making, we gain insight into the cultural and social dynamics that shaped its creation and reception.