Portret van een onbekend echtpaar met kind 1861 - 1885

This is a photograph of an unknown family, created by Louis Caudevelle, sometime in the mid to late 19th century. Photography in this era was still a relatively new medium, often used by the middle class to emulate the portraiture traditions of the aristocracy, and to solidify their status and familial identity. The mother is seated, her voluminous dress an assertion of domesticity and wealth, tenderly cradling a child. Her positioning is an intentional representation of idealized motherhood and domesticity. The father stands protectively behind his family with a strong paternal gaze; his hand tucked strategically to give the impression of confidence and control. What feelings arise when we look at this picture? While the sitters are unknown to us, there is something moving about this glimpse into their lives, their aspirations. We can see that the creation of a family unit became an essential step in defining one's identity in the burgeoning modern era.