Portret van mevrouw Ch.[..] Matthes-Doorman (proefkaart) c. 1860 - 1890

Curator: Looking at this piece, "Portret van mevrouw Ch.[..] Matthes-Doorman," dating back to around 1860-1890, I'm immediately drawn into her story. It feels like gazing through a frosted window into a life held tight by societal expectation. Editor: It's an albumen print. Thinking about the layers of chemistry involved – the egg whites, silver nitrate... it’s less about seeing through and more about considering the physical act of crafting such a precise image. The sitter had to sit for a while and that collaboration is pretty unique. Curator: True! And think of her, seated stiffly, attempting the delicate dance between presentation and authenticity. It's poignant. Her demure posture practically whispers of restraint. Does the material tell us more about who was able to afford to be depicted like this at that time? Editor: Exactly! Albumen prints were relatively accessible for middle-class families wanting to project a certain image. These photographic studios sprung up everywhere so it was all about marketing respectability. So many prints like this floating around makes this one somewhat interesting. Curator: And I wonder what Mrs. Matthes-Doorman truly thought about it all? Maybe she saw a reflection of herself that resonated deeply. Or perhaps she simply endured it as the price of participating in her era. What do you take away from this photograph? Editor: For me, it emphasizes photography’s pivotal role in solidifying middle-class identities. Each carefully produced print reinforces existing social norms around labor and visibility. Curator: A silent collaboration echoing through time... intriguing to consider the silent voices and hidden costs behind such a portrait of bourgeois respectability. Editor: Precisely. The material realities shape and inform the subject in more ways than initially meets the eye, offering more layers and details on further looking.