Portret van een vrouw c. 1890 - 1910

Friedrich Carel Hisgen captured this portrait of a woman using photography, a relatively new medium at the time. The photographic process itself carries social significance. Unlike painting, which was historically reserved for the elite, photography democratized portraiture. The rise of commercial photography studios made personal portraits accessible to a broader segment of society, although still not universally. Consider the labor involved: from the photographer setting up the shot, to the sitter holding still for the exposure, and the darkroom technician developing the image. Each step reflects human effort. Also, the subtle sepia tones speak to the specific chemical processes of early photography, a blend of art, science, and industry. By focusing on photography’s materials and making, we gain a richer understanding of its place in the social fabric, challenging the traditional hierarchy between fine art and everyday image-making.