Portret van Raymonde van Hoecke op vierjarige leeftijd Possibly 1899

This is a portrait of Raymonde van Hoecke at the age of four, made by P. Fournier. This image speaks to the rise of photography and its place in the late 19th and early 20th-century European family, especially among the middle classes. The act of commissioning a portrait transitioned from painting to photography, making it accessible to a broader segment of society. Raymonde's attire, her dress with lace detailing, along with the ornate chair and patterned carpet suggest a family of some means. Yet the child's somewhat stern expression perhaps reflects the formality and seriousness associated with portraiture at that time. What we see is the intersection of social class, technological advancement, and the cultural values placed on family and posterity. The historian might delve into photographic archives, family histories, and social studies of the period to better understand the cultural significance of this image.