Portret van een meisje in hooggesloten jurk 1880 - 1920

This is a portrait photograph by N. Nilsson, depicting a girl in a high-necked dress. Photographs like this one, made in a studio, were popular at the turn of the 20th century. They offer a glimpse into the social conventions of the time, particularly around gender and class. The girl’s formal attire and serious expression speak to the importance of propriety and the constraints placed on young women. The photographic studio itself was an interesting institution. As photography became more accessible, these studios democratized portraiture, allowing people outside the elite to have their images recorded and preserved. This growth of photography also had an impact on painting, as artists had to find new ways to distinguish their work. To understand this image fully, we might look into photography’s rise as a commercial enterprise, the history of fashion for young women, and the social codes that governed portraiture. These resources help us to see how art is always embedded in a particular social and institutional context.