Portret van een jonge vrouw 1870 - 1880

This photographic portrait was made by Maison Dorée, though its exact date is unknown. This image, like so many from the mid-19th century, offers us a window into the aspirations and self-presentation of the emerging middle class. Think about it: photography democratized portraiture. No longer just for the wealthy elite, now a wider segment of society could participate in this form of representation. The woman here, with her modest but neat attire and carefully arranged hair, embodies the values of respectability and upward mobility that were so central to the bourgeoisie. Notice, too, the books and the small sculpted table—these props signal education and refinement. To understand this image better, we might turn to sources like studio records, period fashion magazines, and social histories. These resources help us interpret the visual codes at play and understand the complex relationship between art, identity, and social change. This portrait speaks volumes about the social conditions that shaped artistic production in its time.