Portret van mevrouw Van Leeuwen-Matthes Possibly 1885

Heinrich Wilhelm Wollrabe created this portrait of mevrouw Van Leeuwen-Matthes using photography in the Netherlands. Photography in the 19th century wasn't just about capturing an image; it was deeply intertwined with social status and identity. This portrait, with its formal composition and careful attention to detail in mevrouw Van Leeuwen-Matthes' attire, speaks volumes about the sitter's social standing and the values of bourgeois Dutch society. The very act of commissioning a portrait photograph indicates a level of affluence and a desire to participate in the cultural trend of memorializing oneself and one's family. Institutions like photography studios played a key role in shaping this culture, offering services that catered to the aspirations of the middle and upper classes. Understanding this artwork requires delving into the socio-economic conditions that made such portraiture possible and desirable. Historical archives, genealogical records, and studies of 19th-century Dutch society provide invaluable insights into the lives and values of people like mevrouw Van Leeuwen-Matthes.