Portret van een onbekende vrouw, vermoedelijk gerelateerd aan de familie Marmelstein 1911

Friedrich Carel Hisgen made this portrait of an unknown woman using a photographic process, sometime around the turn of the 20th century. Photography had a huge impact on society in this period. It changed how people saw themselves and others. The sharp detail of photographs gave them an air of truth, so they were used for everything from family portraits to scientific studies. The materials used - glass plate negatives, chemical developers, and printing papers - were products of industrial chemistry. While photography democratized image-making, it was still a business, with studios competing to create the most flattering and enduring likenesses. The photographer’s skill in posing, lighting, and developing the image contributed to the subject's presentation of self. This portrait reflects a moment in history when new technologies met older social customs, shaping both the art world and everyday life.