Portret van een jonge vrouw 1898 - 1912

Corine Ingelse made this photographic portrait of a young woman sometime between 1869 and 1950. Photography, like all material culture, is tied to production, politics, and consumption. Consider the labor involved in creating photographic materials like the glass or celluloid plate, and the chemical preparations needed to sensitize it. This was also a time when darkrooms had many women workers. The portrait itself suggests the social and cultural significance of photography as a tool for documenting identity and status. The subject's clothing and demeanor suggest a certain level of affluence, further emphasized by the ornate frame surrounding the image. Ultimately, this photograph is a testament to the intricate interplay between materials, making, and social context, challenging traditional notions of fine art by highlighting the labor and social dynamics inherent in its creation.