Portret van een onbekend meisje 1855 - 1900

This mounted albumen print of an unknown girl was made by Edward M. Estabrooke, most likely in the United States in the late 19th century. Photography in this period became a popular way for families, even those of modest means, to record their likenesses and preserve their memories. The elaborate embossed card on which the photo is mounted speaks to a democratization of portraiture. While painted portraits were still the domain of the wealthy, photographic studios such as Estabrooke’s made images for a broader public. Note the small size and the oval shape, which evokes earlier painted miniatures, but rendered in a new, reproducible medium. Understanding the social history of photography can help us think about who was represented, how they were represented, and the institutions that shaped photographic practices. By looking at studio directories, census records, and other archival materials, we can begin to piece together the stories behind these images and the people who made them.