Portret van miss Henrietta Atherley 1865 - 1867

This is an undated photograph of Miss Henrietta Atherley by an anonymous photographer, pasted into an album. The image, with its hand-painted frame, speaks to the rise of photography as a popular pursuit in the 19th century. Photographic albums such as this one were often intensely personal objects. They reflected the social world of the owner, cementing family bonds and social networks. But the photograph is also interesting for what it reveals about the broader social structures of the time. The carefully posed nature of the photograph, and Miss Atherley's clothing, signal her social standing, as does the technology of photography itself. The figure sits demurely, as was considered proper for women at the time. Further research into photographic albums of the period, as well as etiquette manuals and dress codes, can help us better understand the complex relationship between photography, social identity, and cultural values.