Claude August Crommelin (1840-1874) met hond zittend voor een tuinhuis met fotoatelier achter Herengracht 132 te Amsterdam 1864

This mounted albumen print depicts Claude August Crommelin with his dog, sitting in front of a garden house with a photo studio, behind Herengracht 132 in Amsterdam. Though the photographer is unknown, the image invites us to consider the position of the sitter, Claude August Crommelin, within the social fabric of 19th-century Amsterdam. Crommelin’s relaxed pose, coupled with the presence of his dog, might reflect the values of the upper class, for whom leisure and the cultivation of personal relationships was very important. The inclusion of the photo studio in the backdrop is a reminder of the burgeoning culture of photography and visual representation, which allowed individuals to carefully craft their public image. How might photography democratize or reinforce existing social hierarchies? Ultimately, this image captures a moment of carefully constructed identity. It compels us to reflect on the relationships between identity, representation, and social status in the 19th century.