Portret van een onbekende vrouw met een iris before 1905

This is an undated portrait of an unknown woman with an iris by C.F. Juston, presented as a mounted photograph within an album. The woman’s gaze is cast downward, drawing our attention to the flower in her hand. The creation and collection of photograph albums became a popular practice amongst the middle classes from the mid-19th century onwards. This was linked to the rise of photography as a popular medium. Looking at this album page, we can consider the institutional setting that has shaped it – consider the cultural associations of photography, the collecting of images and the preservation of memories. The portrait aesthetic is romantic, with soft lighting and a wistful mood. The iris she holds could be a symbol of faith, hope, wisdom, courage, and admiration. The work has a performative quality. The artist, subject and viewer are active in creating a world of meaning together. In trying to understand it better, a historian would consider the social conventions of the time. How did photographic portraiture become part of personal and family identity? What role did women play in shaping these visual forms? Ultimately, the meaning of this artwork is contingent on its social and institutional context.