Portret van Maria Elisabeth Louise Frederika van Pruisen 1865 - 1875

Willem Ganter produced this photograph of Maria Elisabeth Louise Frederika van Pruisen, likely in the late 19th century using the then-popular carte de visite format. These small, easily reproducible photographs became a widespread phenomenon in Europe and North America, fueled by advances in photographic technology and the growth of a middle class eager to participate in visual culture. Photography studios sprang up in urban centers, offering portrait sittings to a public keen to document themselves and their loved ones. The carte de visite also served as a tool for social networking, allowing individuals to exchange images and construct their public personas. In scrutinizing Ganter's photograph, we can look at how this image situates itself within the codes of social class. Was this a private memento or a public statement? To fully understand its significance, one must look at the social and institutional conditions of photographic production and consumption. A good place to start might be by looking into the archives of photography studios and family collections.