Portret van een onbekende vrouw met hoed 1877 - 1897

This photograph of an unknown woman with a hat was created by Lodewijk Hendrikus Serré in Utrecht. It’s a carte-de-visite, a calling card that uses photography. The collodion process, which was popular at the time, involved coating a glass plate with a light-sensitive emulsion, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. This was quite laborious but allowed for multiple prints from a single negative. As you can see on the surface, this process could be unpredictable, with imperfections and variations adding to its unique character. These cards democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider public, not just the wealthy. While the sitter's identity remains a mystery, the photograph offers a glimpse into the fashion and social conventions of the time. The woman's pose and attire, including her elaborate hat, reflect the importance of appearance and social status in 19th-century society. Understanding the photographic process and social context helps us appreciate this seemingly simple portrait as a complex artifact of its time, blurring the lines between technology, artistry, and social practice.