Portret van een jonge vrouw 1880 - 1910

This is a portrait of a young woman by A.B. Caufman. We don't have an exact date for it, but based on the style and materials, it likely comes from the late 19th century. The image is small, meant for private display, and speaks to the rise of photography as a means for families to record and share their likenesses. Consider the social context: photography studios emerged as businesses, democratizing portraiture which was once reserved for the wealthy. The subject’s attire suggests a middle-class background, reflecting a specific set of cultural values around modesty and decorum. Her gaze is averted, perhaps indicating the social constraints placed on women at the time. To understand this photograph fully, one would need to delve into the history of photography and the social conventions of the time, using sources like periodicals, studio records, and social histories. The meaning of such an image lies as much in the world around it as it does in its aesthetic qualities.