Studioportret van twee jongens c. 1875 - 1890

This is a studio portrait of two boys, made by G. A. Vernout in Haarlem, likely in the late 19th century. The sepia tones and formal composition speak to the conventions of studio photography at that time. These boys, neatly dressed with pocket watches, are clearly from a well-to-do family. The studio backdrop, suggesting an outdoor scene, was a common feature, allowing families to project a certain image of themselves. Consider the rise of the middle class in the Netherlands during this period, and how photography served as a tool for social climbing and the construction of identity. Photography studios sprang up in cities like Haarlem, catering to this desire for portraiture. To understand this image better, we might delve into archival records of Haarlem's photographic studios. By examining these resources, we can uncover the social and economic forces that shaped both the production and consumption of images like this. Only then can we grasp its full historical significance.