Portret van een staand meisje met hoed 1890 - 1920

Editor: So this is "Portret van een staand meisje met hoed" by Charles Guignet, a gelatin silver print probably made between 1890 and 1920. The girl's expression is so direct, almost challenging. It definitely gives it a mood. What can you tell me about the social context for photographs like this? Curator: Absolutely. Considering the history, the popularization of photography in the late 19th century democratized portraiture. Previously a privilege of the wealthy, portraits became accessible to the middle class. How do you think that affected societal views on self-representation? Editor: It must have been revolutionary! Finally, people who weren’t rich could control how they were seen and remembered. Were studios like Guignet's seen as offering a public service, or more of a business? Curator: A bit of both, I suspect. Photography studios provided a service by creating images for social records, and for displaying social status, while naturally being part of a commercial market. But look at the ornate chair she is posing by: these were not simple snapshots. What impression does that staged setting give *you*? Editor: Definitely that photography studios tried to be like fine art portraiture. Even the ornate frame reminds me of how paintings were displayed back then! This image gives you the sense of having access to another person’s life a century ago. Thanks! Curator: And in that connection to the past, we're reminded how artistic and social practices intertwine! It has made me think about how photography was shaped by pre-existing conventions, yet managed to disrupt them, too.