Familiealbum met honderdtwintig foto's 1860 - 1920

This is a family album with one hundred and twenty photographs, crafted by an anonymous artist. The album presents a window into the social conventions of its time through a very particular lens: the family. The cover is adorned with floral motifs reminiscent of the Art Nouveau style. This was a movement that sought to integrate art into everyday life, rejecting industrialization in favor of craftsmanship and natural forms. Now, consider the content: one hundred and twenty photographs. The rise of photography in the 19th century allowed for the democratization of portraiture. Family albums became a way for the middle class to document their lives, mirroring the practices of the aristocracy. Who were these families? What stories do these photographs tell? Historical resources such as census records, newspapers, and other family documents could reveal more about the social and economic status of the families featured, providing a richer context for understanding this album, and the ways in which families saw themselves.