Portret van een vrouw 1886 - 1887

This small portrait of a woman was made by the photography studio of Koene & Büttinghausen. Without a date, we can only speculate when and where it was made. However, the cultural references in the image speak volumes. The woman’s attire suggests a modest, middle-class background, likely from the early 20th century. Photography studios like Koene & Büttinghausen democratized portraiture, making it accessible to a wider segment of society, a departure from the exclusive domain of painted portraits. The rise of photography also coincided with changing social norms, particularly around gender and class. These portraits often served to assert one’s identity and social standing. Studying archives, newspapers, and other period documents would provide valuable insight into the cultural context of this portrait. Art, after all, doesn't exist in a vacuum; it reflects and shapes the society in which it is created.