Reproductie van een portret van Louis Asser after 1850

This is a reproduction of a portrait of Louis Asser, made with an unspecified technique by Eduard Isaac Asser. The portrait gives us a glimpse into the social conventions of the time, particularly concerning class and status. We can see a man dressed in the attire of the upper middle class. What does this tell us? Perhaps of a society that was starting to value individualism and to commemorate it. Photography in the Netherlands, as elsewhere, was initially a tool of documentation and record-keeping, often used by institutions and the wealthy. It wasn't until later that it became more accessible and was used to challenge existing social norms. Understanding this image requires us to look at the history of photography, the social structures of the time, and the role of institutions such as museums in shaping our understanding of art. Only then can we fully appreciate its meaning and significance.