Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1881 - 1903

This portrait of an unknown woman was created by Max Cosman in Amsterdam sometime in the late 19th century, using photographic processes. Photography democratized portraiture. What had previously been an artistic privilege of the upper classes became available to a wider segment of society. The rise of photography studios created a new kind of industry, one that was more mechanized, more efficient, and ultimately more profitable. Looking at the photograph, notice the sitter’s garments: the dark fabric, perhaps wool, with delicate trim. Photography became a tool for documenting fashion and material culture, further fueling consumer desires. Cosman’s “Portret van een onbekende vrouw” is not just a picture of a person; it’s an artifact of its time, a reminder of the changing landscape of art, labor, and commerce. It invites us to consider the social and economic forces that shaped our visual world.