Portret van een vrouw c. 1854 - 1855

Eduard Isaac Asser made this portrait of a woman with photography, during the rise of this medium in the Netherlands. Consider the rise of photography in the 19th century as more than just a technological advancement; it was a social phenomenon. This photographic portrait provides insight into the fashion, pose, and overall presentation of a woman in that era. What does it tell us about the sitter? The way she presents herself, her dress and hair all speak to conventions of middle class identity. Photography democratized portraiture, making images more accessible. What do we learn about social mobility and self-representation? What role did institutions like photography studios play in shaping how people wanted to be seen? To understand this photograph fully, we can look at the social and cultural history of the Netherlands, exploring archives to enrich our understanding of the sitter and the artist.