Portret van Ida van Braam 1900

This photographic portrait of Ida van Braam was made in 1901, by an anonymous photographer. Its material is the key to understanding its moment in time. In the late 19th century, the rise of photography created a new kind of portraiture, more democratic and accessible than painting. Photographic studios became ubiquitous, but the labor involved in producing these images was often obscured. What appears as an instant image was, in fact, the result of complex chemical processes, and the skilled work of developing and printing. Consider also the clothing Ida is wearing. The fur trim, the elaborate hat: all point to a culture of conspicuous consumption. But each of these items also represents a chain of production, from the trapping of animals to the skilled labor of milliners and tailors. By focusing on the materials and processes behind this photograph, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and economic forces that shaped Ida van Braam's world, and our own.