Marie Antoine (Wöss) 1850s - 1860s

This photograph of Marie Antoine, née Wöss, was made by Franz Antoine, likely sometime in the mid-19th century. The ambrotype, a photograph made by creating a direct positive on a sheet of glass, was a relatively new technology at the time, and signaled an emerging visual culture. The photograph gives us a glimpse into the social world of mid-19th century Europe. This formal portrait, with its emphasis on the sitter's attire, speaks to the rise of a middle class with enough disposable income to commission such a portrait. We might also consider the institutional factors at play. The rise of photography was linked to new forms of scientific inquiry, as well as the commercial studios and galleries that exhibited these works. To truly understand this image, we could look further into Antoine's career, the history of photography in Austria, and of course, more information about the sitter herself. This photograph, like all art, is inseparable from its social and institutional context.