Portret van een vrouw met hoed 1880 - 1920

Tore Ulander captured this photographic "Portret van een Vrouw met Hoed," or Portrait of a Woman with a Hat, sometime before 1940. Photography, as a medium, gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, becoming more accessible with advancements in technology. This portrait reflects the era's interest in capturing individual likeness. The subject's attire, particularly her hat, speaks volumes about the fashion and social norms of the time. Hats were not merely accessories; they were statements of status and taste, carefully crafted using textiles, feathers, and skilled millinery techniques. Consider the labor involved in producing such garments, from textile mills to the artisan workshops where hats were shaped and trimmed. This portrait isn't just an image; it’s an index of the complex social and economic forces at play during Ulander’s time. Photography democratized portraiture, moving it away from being an exclusive privilege of the upper classes, but retained the power to freeze a particular social performance. By understanding the materials, making, and context behind this portrait, we appreciate its cultural significance beyond the surface.