Portret van een vrouw, zittend aan een tafel 1861 - 1874

Albert Greiner created this portrait of a seated woman using photography, a relatively new medium at the time. This small photograph, or carte-de-visite, would have been more accessible than a painted portrait, yet still retain the look and feel of a crafted image. The sitter's elaborate dress speaks volumes about her social status and the labor required to produce it. The multiple layers of fabric, delicate lace, and intricate trimmings all point to the skilled hands of seamstresses, textile workers, and others involved in the fashion industry. The weight and texture of the dress materials, combined with the woman's posture, convey a sense of formality and restraint, reflecting the social expectations placed on women in the 19th century. By focusing on the material aspects of the photograph and the dress depicted within it, we gain a deeper understanding of the social and economic forces that shaped the subject's life and the broader cultural context in which Greiner created this image.