Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1871 - 1888

This portrait of an unknown woman was made by Jerôme Henri Kiebert, using a photographic process which was very popular during the 19th century. The image is printed on paper, adhered to a cardstock backing. The sepia tones and the oval vignette were typical of carte-de-visite photography. The development of photography coincided with the rise of industrial capitalism. Photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a broader segment of society. The level of work and artistry involved in photography differs from that of painting and sculpture; photographic portraits became much more accessible in society as compared to painted portraits. Kiebert's work reflects the social and economic shifts of the era. It challenges our conventional assumptions about art, prompting us to consider the intricate relationship between technology, labor, and artistic expression. By valuing materials and the modes of production, we gain a deeper understanding of how art mirrors and shapes the societies in which it is created.