Portret van een onbekende vrouw, staande naast een tafel waarop een boek ligt 1853 - 1860

This small photograph captures an unknown woman, and was likely made using the albumen print process. The process involved coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, resulting in a distinctive sepia tone and a smooth surface ideal for capturing fine details. The subject is placed next to a table with a book, suggesting literacy and status. The soft focus and limited tonal range are characteristic of early photography, in which extended exposure times demanded that subjects remained still, resulting in a posed and formal composition. Photography democratized portraiture. No longer the preserve of the wealthy who could afford to commission painted portraits, photography allowed a broader segment of society to record their likeness. The rise of photography studios provided employment for numerous skilled workers, from photographers and retouchers to colorists, thus contributing to a growing service industry. These aspects underscore photography’s role in reshaping social and economic structures.