Portret van een vrouw 1880 - 1920

This undated portrait of a woman was made by M. Glover, and is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. While photographic portraits may seem commonplace today, we need to consider the social conditions that made them possible in the past. In the nineteenth century, the rise of photography studios offered a new way for individuals to represent themselves, but also to participate in a wider culture of image-making. This small photographic print gives us a glimpse into that world. The subject is dressed in the height of fashion. She sits formally in front of a constructed backdrop. It is very likely that she visited a photographic studio for this image to be made. The rise of photography was not without its critics, of course. Some painters saw the new medium as a threat to the status of art. Others were more interested in the possibilities of using the camera for social and political commentary. Historical sources such as studio records, diaries, and letters can help us to understand how photography changed the way people saw themselves, and the world around them.