Portret van een vrouw in een jurk met hoofddeksel en een zittende man c. 1866 - 1900

This portrait of a seated man and woman in a dress with headdress was captured by Johan Christiaan Reesinck. It embodies the democratizing force of photography in the 19th century. The photograph is modest in size, made through chemical processes involving light-sensitive materials coated on a paper base. Its sepia tones lend a sense of nostalgia. The sitters appear reserved, typical of the era's photographic conventions, and perhaps a reflection of their economic class. The man's ornate chair subtly hints at affluence, while the woman’s simple dress speaks to the labor involved in textile production and clothing manufacture. Reesinck’s work reminds us that photography, even in its early days, was not just about capturing likenesses. It was a social practice tied to representation, labor, and the burgeoning consumer culture. Appreciating the materiality and context of this image allows us to look past the surface. We can consider the broader implications of photographic portraiture in shaping identity and memory.