Portret van een vrouw met halsketting 1867 - 1880

Willem Gerhardus Kuijer made this portrait of a woman with a necklace using photographic techniques that were transforming visual culture in the 19th century. The albumen print, created from a glass negative, captures incredible detail. What's fascinating is how photography democratized portraiture. Before, only the wealthy could afford painted portraits, but now, a middle-class woman could have her likeness preserved. This shift reflects broader changes in society, influenced by industrial modes of production and the rise of a consumer culture. Consider the labor involved: from preparing the chemicals to posing for the shot, each step demanded precision and skill. Yet, the final product, reproduced and distributed widely, blurred the lines between art and commodity. This portrait, once a luxury, became accessible, reshaping our understanding of art, value, and identity.