Portret van een onbekende vrouw met een fiets c. 1878 - 1895

E. v.d. Kerkhoff captured this portrait of an unknown woman with a bicycle using photographic methods that were novel at the time. Early photography like this required a lot of resources; silver nitrate for the light-sensitive emulsion, glass for the negative, and a skilled photographer to set up the shot and develop the print. The final product, a paper print, was an expensive commodity in its time. Yet, the rise of photography also democratized portraiture. What makes this photograph so interesting, though, is the bicycle. Consider all the industries involved in its manufacture: metalworking, rubber production, and textiles for the seat. It represents a step forward in personal transportation and a shift in social dynamics. This photograph, therefore, is not just an image, but a material record of technological advancement, labor, and consumption. It shows how photography became a part of everyday life, blurring the lines between art, craft, and industry.