Portret van een meisje bij een stoel met een open tekenboek 1861 - 1890

This portrait of a girl with a sketchbook was made by Albert Greiner using photography, a relatively new medium at the time. Photography was originally seen as a craft, with practitioners needing expertise in optics and chemistry. Early photographic processes required careful manipulation of materials like glass plates, silver nitrate, and developing solutions, demanding specialized knowledge and skill. The laborious process and technical knowledge invested in the photographic process elevated its status, with photographs often seen as luxury items. Here, the photographer has carefully posed the young girl alongside an open sketchbook, her drawing skills displayed as a symbol of wealth and the family's investment in her education. This reflects the burgeoning consumer culture of the 19th century, where photography was increasingly used to commemorate and celebrate the growing middle class and their values. Looking at this photograph, we can appreciate how technological advances in materials and processes intertwine with evolving social values.