Portret van een onbekende jonge vrouw met lang haar 1884 - 1895

This is a portrait of an unknown young woman, made with photography and framed in textile, by C. van der Aa and J. Chrispijn. Photography, as a material process, democratized portraiture. The tactile, soft frame around this photograph changes our perception of the image itself. Usually, we consider the photograph, the image, to be the artwork. But here, we see the makers have taken care to craft a material surrounding for the image, literally softening its impact. The blue textile and the pillowy padding give this portrait an intimacy that we do not usually associate with photography. The textile frame would have been made by a skilled artisan, perhaps a seamstress, or upholsterer, and is as important as the image in understanding the artwork. We might also think about the labor of the sitter in having her photograph taken. Sitting still would have been difficult, requiring patience and time. By attending to the materials, making, and social context, we can appreciate the full meaning of this artwork and challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.