Portret van een vrouw 1865 - 1890

Anatole Pougnet made this ‘Portrait of a Woman’ using photographic methods that were newly available to the public in the late 19th century. This work speaks to the rise of photographic portraiture, made possible through advances in chemistry and optics, but also made necessary by the increasing expansion of the middle class. Photography democratized access to portraiture, offering a relatively inexpensive alternative to painted likenesses. However, the process was not instant, and it demanded patience, stillness, and a level of performativity from the sitter. The final image, printed on paper, captures not just a likeness, but also a moment in time made possible through the collaboration of artist, sitter, and industrial processes. Consider the labour involved in producing such an image – from the factory workers producing photographic materials, to the photographer operating the camera, to the sitter posing for the portrait, these elements offer insight into the social and economic context of the time. The photograph blurs the boundaries between fine art and commercial practice, challenging us to consider the value and meaning we assign to different forms of image-making.