Groepsportret van leden van de Union Nationale de Photographie te Lille 1896

This black and white photograph captures a group portrait of the members of the Union Nationale de la Photographie in Lille. The image offers a glimpse into the world of early photography and the social structures that shaped it. The subjects, all men, are formally posed, reflecting the conventions of group portraiture at the time. The photograph underscores the limited access to artistic and professional networks for women during this period. Photography was a burgeoning field, yet its practitioners were largely drawn from privileged backgrounds, reinforcing existing class divisions. How does this image make us feel about who gets to participate in art and cultural movements and who is excluded? What stories might remain untold due to these power dynamics?