Portret van twee onbekende vrouwen waarvan er één klederdracht draagt c. 1861 - 1890

Albert Greiner made this photograph in Amsterdam, but we cannot be sure exactly when. In it, we see two women, one wearing traditional costume, carefully posed within a domestic setting. Consider the cultural context for photography in the Netherlands at this time. What role did the camera play in shaping ideas about Dutch identity? By the 19th century, photography had become a tool for both preserving and marketing aspects of local and regional culture. Images of people in traditional dress were made for commercial purposes, satisfying the growing tourist industry. The woman dressed in the fashion of the day would have been part of a growing urban class, perhaps keen to signal her progressive views. But what was her relationship with the other woman? And why did they choose to be photographed together? Further research into the history of photography and Dutch costume might shed light on these questions.