Portret van A.J. Langhout 1885 - 1906

Willem Gerhardus Kuijer made this photograph, "Portret van A.J. Langhout," in Amsterdam, though its exact date is unknown. It depicts a young child formally posed in a studio setting. Photographs like this one were instrumental in shaping middle-class identity in the Netherlands. As photography became more accessible, portraiture shifted from being exclusively for the wealthy to a tool for broader social representation. The act of commissioning a photograph and carefully posing the subject reinforced social norms and class aspirations. The studio setting, complete with an ornate chair, further emphasizes the sitter's status and the family's investment in projecting a respectable image. Research into local archives and genealogical records could reveal more about the Langhout family and their social standing within Amsterdam. By examining photographs like this, we gain insight into the social values and aspirations of the time, understanding how individuals sought to define their place within a changing society.