Portret van een onbekende jonge vrouw 1892

Charles Gallot produced this photograph of an unknown young woman in Paris, most likely at the end of the 19th century. The subject's dark dress and lace collar offer clues about the social conventions of the time. Fashionable society in France dictated a specific code of dress, and portraits played a role in communicating social status. The fact that this portrait was produced in a professional studio, as indicated by the photographer’s address printed at the bottom, tells us that the subject was likely middle class. Photography studios blossomed in Paris during this period, documenting a wide spectrum of society. An art historian might consult fashion plates and social etiquette manuals from the period to understand more about how individuals presented themselves in public life, and how the institutions of art helped to shape those presentations. By examining such historical contexts, we can appreciate the meanings encoded in this evocative portrait.