Portret van een zittende baby 1850 - 1900

This is a photograph of a seated baby, taken by the photographer Berger. Photography in the 19th century played a pivotal role in shaping societal norms. Here, the baby is centered within an oval frame, a common visual language for portraiture at the time. Note the adornment of lace and fabric, which served to communicate ideas about class, respectability, and gender. The act of photographing a child wasn't merely about documentation; it reflected the parents' aspirations and status within a community. This seemingly simple portrait is thus charged with cultural meaning. It invites us to reflect on how we construct and communicate identity, and how photography has been complicit in this process.