Portret van een staande jongen 1872 - 1879

This is a portrait of a standing boy by Hendrik Anthonie Karel Ringler. We don’t have a date for it, but we do know it was made using photography. This is a fascinating example of a photograph, because it demonstrates the democratization of portraiture. Before photography, portraiture was reserved for the upper classes, because the process of painting was expensive. Photography was able to circumvent this restriction and make portraiture available to a wider range of people. Though perhaps not to everyone – you can see that the boy is dressed in a very specific style of clothing that is an indication of his class. The photograph also embodies other forms of making and craft. The table beside the boy shows how intricate and beautiful furniture was made at this time, and demonstrates the social and cultural significance of this type of craft, and the role it played in the lives of the upper classes. Ultimately, by focusing on materiality, processes, and social context, we can gain a fuller understanding of photography, challenging distinctions between fine art and craft.