Studioportret van een blonde vrouw in een lange zwarte jurk c. 1863 - 1866

This is Albert Greiner’s studio portrait of a blonde woman in a long black dress. Although undated, the photograph’s visual codes offer insight into its socio-cultural context. Made in the Netherlands, we see how clothing, pose and props combine to communicate status and respectability. The dark dress indicates that this is a formal, considered portrait, not a casual snapshot. The whiteness of the lace collar speaks to the family's wealth. Her hand rests on a decorative chair, likely a studio prop, which shows that she is participating in a public performance of class identity. During this period, photography studios emerged as important institutions, shaping social norms around representation and self-presentation. The photo is interesting for not critiquing the institutions of art, but actively participating in it. To understand photography's role at this time, we can research manuals, social commentaries, and photographic archives. This helps us see how art both reflects and shapes its cultural moment.