Portret van een gesluierde harembewaakster c. 1870 - 1891

This photographic print titled “Portret van een gesluierde harembewaakster” was made by Hippolyte Arnoux at an unknown date. The sepia tone gives the image a timeless quality, but also speaks to the processes involved in its making. Each photograph would have been carefully composed and developed, a far cry from the instant images we create today. The details of the woman’s dress are sharply rendered, a stark reminder of the labor involved in the creation of garments. The photograph's subject, a veiled harem guard, is adorned with pearl bracelets, emphasizing a life of restriction and luxury. The photograph's focus on materiality invites us to consider not only the aesthetic qualities, but also the social and cultural significance embedded within. It bridges the gap between the fine arts and the craft of photography.