Portret van een vrouw 1865 - 1887

Jan George Mulder made this photograph of a woman, probably in the Netherlands, using the technique of albumen print, sometime in the mid-19th century. Photography in this period was rapidly evolving from a scientific curiosity to a popular means of representation, but it remained bound by convention. Studio portraiture such as this was reserved primarily for the middle and upper classes. The subject’s clothing and jewelry indicates that she comes from a wealthy family, while the formal pose and framing lend her an air of dignity and respectability. One might consider how the rise of photography challenged earlier modes of portraiture, such as painting. Unlike the unique hand-made painting, photography allowed for the relatively easy and cheap mechanical reproduction of images, changing the concept of art and the role of the artist in society. Understanding this image requires attention to the social and technological contexts in which it was made. To study further, one might look into archives of photographic history, fashion history, and social class in 19th century Europe.