Portret van Marie Henriëtte van Oostenrijk, koningin van België 1855 - 1870

Editor: Here we have a photograph entitled "Portrait of Marie Henriëtte of Austria, Queen of Belgium," created sometime between 1855 and 1870 by Ghémar Frères. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The texture of her gown really grabs my attention, it looks so heavy and opulent. What are your thoughts on this image? Curator: As a materialist, what I notice immediately is the tension between the new technology of photography and the age-old displays of power. Think about it – the making of photographs involved a significant investment in materials like silver and glass. In those days, the entire photographic process would have been far more complex and specialized than even painting! Editor: Right, so it was both cutting-edge and kind of exclusive. Curator: Exactly! Queen Marie Henriëtte’s extravagant gown isn't just about her wealth but about the complex industries, materials and labor needed to manufacture, photograph, and circulate it. Did most common people have access to photography at this time? Editor: Not really. It seems like photography reinforced the social hierarchy even as it democratized portraiture. Curator: Precisely! By examining the labor, the specific techniques of photography at that moment, and the culture of consumption the photograph encourages, we reveal so much about this particular period. What do you think that tells us? Editor: I never considered how a photograph could highlight the power of industry itself. Thanks for pointing that out, it’s shifted my perspective. Curator: It is interesting to consider how such images played a role in the manufacturing and distribution of wealth and power. Something to keep in mind.