Portret van een onbekend meisje met een uil before 1892

This photograph of an unknown girl with an owl was published in the November 1900 issue of Wilson's Photographic Magazine. At the turn of the century, photography was both an art and an emerging industry. Magazines such as Wilson's played a crucial role in shaping photographic practices, providing a space for debate, technical advice, and the circulation of aesthetic ideals. The cultural associations of the owl as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, combined with the innocence of the young girl, may comment on the changing roles of women in society. The magazine itself, as an institution, helped construct and disseminate this cultural value. Further research into photography journals and the social history of childhood in this period can help us better understand the complex interplay between art, commerce, and social change in the early 20th century.