Portret van een jonge vrouw met boek, leunend op een balustrade 1862 - 1899

This photograph of a young woman with a book was made by Willem Gerhardus Kuijer. Though seemingly straightforward, it's a rich document of its time. The photograph itself is an albumen print, a process popular in the 19th century. Thin paper coated with albumen from egg whites creates a smooth surface. This enhances the details and tonal range captured by the camera. Look closely, and you'll see the incredible resolution, made possible by this meticulous technique. But consider, too, the labor embedded in this image. From the photographer carefully preparing the chemicals and posing the sitter, to the young woman herself, likely from a middle-class family, who had the leisure to sit for a portrait. The photograph speaks to emerging social structures and economies of representation. It challenges us to think about how photography, even in its early days, was not just about capturing an image, but also about creating a carefully constructed presentation of self.