Portret van een vrouw, staand bij een stoel 1868 - 1869

This small portrait of a woman was made by Adriaan Buijze Gzn. sometime in the mid-19th century. The photographic print itself is an albumen print, a process popular at the time, where the image is developed on paper coated with egg white. The materiality of the print influences its appearance, the albumen giving it a smooth surface and characteristic sepia tone. It’s the end result of a complex chemical process, a craft that combines science and artistry. The final product also reflects the sitter’s own engagement with a culture of making and dress. Her clothing would have been produced by skilled dressmakers and tailors, and possibly involved the use of newly available sewing machines. Consider the labor involved in producing the fabrics, and the clothing, and the photograph itself. Looking at this image, we can appreciate not just the artistry of the photographer, but the wider context of making, labor, and social identity in which it was produced.