Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1900 - 1914

This portrait of an unknown woman was made with photography by Samson & Cie. The photographic print is a product of industrial chemistry, and the development of this particular technology had a democratizing effect. Suddenly, portraiture was not just for the elite; it became available to a wider segment of society, like the young woman depicted here. Her clothing speaks to this point as well. While the details of lace at the collar and cuffs, and the fur trim, indicate that she is well-to-do, her ensemble also has the feel of a uniform, suggestive of work. Photography, though a mechanical medium, had a social impact, as it made images more accessible, and, in a sense, leveled the playing field of visual representation. This portrait reminds us that every kind of art making – whether “high” or “low” – is a product of its time, and inextricably tied to the means of production available.