Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1864 - 1868

This is a photographic portrait of an unknown woman, made by Jules Ordinaire. Photography in this era was a fascinating intersection of science, technology, and artistry. Think about the sitter’s dress. The heavy fabric, the cut, and the details all speak to a particular social class and status. The making of such a garment would have involved skilled labor, from textile production to tailoring, each step contributing to the final product. Consider the photographer's role too. Ordinaire would have been familiar with the chemical processes of developing the image, as well as the aesthetic conventions of portraiture. The final print is the result of many hands, not just the artist's. So, when we look at this portrait, we're not just seeing an image of a woman, but a complex interplay of materials, processes, and social relations. It reminds us that even seemingly simple objects are embedded in a web of making, labor, and consumption.