Fotoreproductie van een schilderij van een wachtende vrouw met een kind op haar arm door August Hagborg before 1879

This photograph reproduces a painting by August Hagborg, and was made by Johannes Jaeger in the late 19th century. Though we are one step removed from Hagborg’s original brushstrokes, the materiality of the print itself is key. The tonal range achieved through the photographic process gives a soft, almost melancholic feel to the scene. The image depicts a woman and child waiting, perhaps for a loved one’s return. The sharp lines of the pier contrast with the flowing fabric of the woman’s dress and the child’s hair, suggesting a tension between the built environment and the natural world. Photography in this period was rapidly evolving, becoming more accessible and transforming the way people documented their lives and surroundings. This image speaks to broader issues of labor and class. The woman's waiting embodies a kind of work, the emotional labor of hoping and anticipating. By focusing on these aspects, we can move beyond a simple reading of the image and instead consider the social and economic forces at play.