Portret van een onbekende vrouw c. 1850 - 1875

The Southwell Brothers made this portrait of an unknown woman using the photographic technique of the time. This work belongs to a tradition of 19th-century portraiture that served as an important marker of social identity. Photography democratized image-making, making portraits more accessible across class lines. This image, with its formal composition and carefully arranged details of dress, speaks to the sitter's aspirations of middle-class identity. It would be interesting to know more about the sitter, who may have wanted to publicly signal her identity and social standing through her attire. To understand this photograph more deeply, scholars might research the Southwell Brothers and their studio practices. We also can use sources of popular culture, such as etiquette manuals, fashion plates, and even census records to understand how individuals like the unknown woman presented themselves and their social roles.