Collage van portretten van onbekende mannen, vrouwen en kinderen before 1900

This is a collage of portraits of unknown men, women, and children by Rudolf Dührkoop. It seems to have been published in book form. Looking at this image, we can consider the rise of photography at the turn of the century, and its impact on social representation. The photographic format allowed for new ways of categorizing people, but it also provided new opportunities to define individual identities. The very act of assembling a book or magazine would have been a social event. The German context in which Dührkoop worked would have been defined by class hierarchies, so it would be interesting to know more about the people depicted here. What are the signs of wealth and class identity in their dress, pose, and expression? The image's meaning is contingent on social and institutional context. To gain deeper insights, we can consult a range of resources, including historical archives, photographic journals, and period publications that shed light on the social role of photography at this pivotal moment in history.