Portret van een vrouw 1860 - 1890

This small photograph titled, "Portret van een Vrouw" or "Portrait of a Woman," was created by Narciso Mestre y Ca.. Studio portraits like this one were fashionable in the late 19th century. We can tell that this photograph was taken in a professional studio due to the plain backdrop and the small table on which the woman rests her arm. The woman's dress and jewelry indicate that she belongs to the upper class. Consider the values implied by this kind of formal portraiture. This is an image about status and belonging, about presenting a carefully constructed version of oneself to the world. Historians of photography consult studio directories and census records to learn more about the photographers and sitters who participated in this cultural practice. The history of photography has traditionally focused on aesthetics, but recently there has been greater focus on the social and cultural context surrounding photographs like these.