Portret van twee meisjes 1877 - 1897

Lodewijk Hendrikus Serré made this portrait of two young girls at an unknown date using photographic methods. The image provides a window into the cultural values of its time, likely the late 19th century in the Netherlands, given the artist's origin. Photography at that time served as a tool for documentation but also social positioning. The girls' formal attire, their carefully arranged hair, and the studio setting all suggest a desire to present a respectable image of middle-class childhood. The very act of commissioning a portrait reflects the family's economic means and their engagement with the emerging culture of photography as an art form. Examining studio records, fashion trends, and social histories of the era, one might find further clues about the subjects and their place in society. This artwork can also be seen in the context of the development of photography as an industry, supported by institutions such as photographic studios and the market for portraiture among the growing middle class.