Portret van een meisje op een houten bank 1880 - 1920

This is a portrait of a girl on a wooden bench, made by A. Merckling using photographic processes. The photograph’s surface is smooth and matte, and the girl in a frilly white dress is sharply in focus. The image gives us a clear view of the period clothing and material culture, capturing details of the wooden bench. Note the rustic joinery of the bench, made from roughly hewn branches and planks. This shows the artist's attention to surface and texture. Photographs like this one reflect the rise of industrial capitalism, as photography became increasingly accessible. It also speaks to the growth of a middle class with the time and resources to commission portraits, and the wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption in a rapidly changing world. Considering the materials and the making of this photograph allows us to appreciate its full meaning, blurring the lines between fine art, craft, and everyday life.