Portret van een man met boek in de hand, zittend aan een tafel 1865 - 1870

This small photograph shows a man with a book, and was made by the photographic firm Billotte Frères. Without further research, the date of the photograph remains unknown, but we can see that the man is a member of the middle classes. His suit, chair and book mark him as a member of society with the money and leisure time for intellectual pursuits. At this time, in the mid-to-late nineteenth century, photography was becoming increasingly accessible. As a result, the middle classes could adopt the portraiture traditions previously enjoyed by wealthy elites who would commission painted portraits. The new market for photography changed the nature of the medium. By looking at factors like the studio's history, the sitter's clothes, and photographic formats, we can begin to examine the cultural context around the image. Art history considers the conditions which shape artistic production, and how social changes affect institutions and their role in art.