Portret van een staande vrouw bij een stoel 1850 - 1870

Frederik Caland made this portrait of a woman using photography, a process that was becoming increasingly accessible in the 19th century. Photography, unlike painting or sculpture, is a medium deeply intertwined with industrial production. From the manufacturing of the camera and the photographic plates, to the chemical processes involved in developing the image, it relies on a whole network of industrial activity. Consider the woman's dress. The fabric, the cut, the construction - all speak to the rise of the textile industry and the emergence of ready-to-wear fashion. The very act of commissioning a photograph suggests a certain level of economic means, indicative of a rising middle class with disposable income. Caland's portrait is not just an image of a woman, it’s a record of a specific moment in social and technological history. By considering these aspects, we can move beyond the surface of the image and understand its deeper cultural significance.