Portret van een meisje met een ketting 1867 - 1884

This portrait of a girl with a necklace was made by Wegner & Mottu, using photographic techniques that were rapidly evolving at the time. The image itself is a study in contrasts – the soft, almost dreamlike quality of the girl’s features set against the more defined lines of her dress and jewelry. The brass frame adds a sense of formality to the portrait. Consider the labor involved in creating such an object in the 19th century, from the photographer’s technical skill in capturing the image to the craftsmanship of creating the frame. Photography democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider range of people beyond the wealthy elite who could afford painted portraits. However, it also created new forms of labor and consumption, as photographic studios sprung up to meet the demand for these images. Appreciating this history allows us to see this portrait not just as an image of a girl, but as a reflection of broader social and economic forces at play.