Portret van een jonge vrouw met boek in de hand, staand bij een stoel 1884 - 1900

Josef Ungar created this portrait photograph of a young woman with book in hand, sometime between 1869 and 1907. The subject appears to be a woman of the middle or upper class, judging by her dress and bearing. This image creates meaning through specific visual codes relating to the rise of the bourgeoisie in Europe during the late 19th century. Advances in technology and the growth of a middle class made photography increasingly accessible. Portraiture became a popular way to document social standing. Here, the book is a clear signal of education and status. The subject’s conservative dress and posture project an image of modesty and respectability. The plant in the background suggests a comfortable domesticity. By researching the history of photography and class structure in 19th-century Europe, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural context in which this photograph was made. The meaning of art is always contingent on its historical moment.