Portret van een meisje 1862 - 1867

Louis Oskar Grienwaldt created this small portrait of a girl, using photography, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The image is mounted in what appears to be a photograph album. In the absence of any other information, we might ask ourselves, what was the function of photography at this time? Photography had emerged in the mid-19th century, and by the time this photograph was taken it was becoming more widespread. But taking and printing photographs remained relatively expensive, and the portrait format was still associated with established traditions of wealth and status. Although this is only one image, it provides a tantalizing glimpse into the past. What was this girl’s social background? What were the fashions of the time? Were photograph albums like this a common feature of middle-class homes? These are just some of the questions that can be answered through careful historical research. The meaning of this artwork only becomes clear through consideration of its original social context.