Portret van een onbekende vrouw in Zwitserse klederdracht c. 1870 - 1900

Traugott Richard made this photographic portrait of an unknown woman in Swiss traditional costume sometime in the 19th century. This image encapsulates the complex interplay between identity, representation, and commercial interests during a period of rapid social and technological change. In 19th century Switzerland, traditional clothing served as a powerful symbol of regional and cultural identity. This photograph participates in the marketing of Switzerland as a tourist destination. The woman’s carefully arranged costume and pose reflect a self-conscious performance of Swiss identity for a growing tourist industry. Note how the backdrop is an idealized version of nature, a visual shorthand for the Swiss landscape. By producing and circulating images like these, photographers like Richard contributed to the construction and commodification of Swiss identity. Historians can use sources like these to understand better the complex ways in which culture is produced, consumed, and negotiated.