Portret van een meisje leunend tegen een stoel 1874 - 1896

This photograph, "Portret van een meisje leunend tegen een stoel," was made by Cornelis Johannes Richardus Pels in the Netherlands at a time when photography studios were becoming more common. As photography became more widespread, the sitter's social class became less indicative of wealth. What had been a privilege for the upper classes became available to the middle classes, and photography studios popped up in many cities. The stiff pose and formal dress still evoke a sense of formality. However, the girl's expression and posture lack the solemnity of earlier portraiture. Consider the role of the photographer. The rise of photographic studios gave photographers a public role. They captured not only the likenesses of individuals but also the changing face of society. The historian in me wants to know more. What was the studio like? Who were Pels' clientele? Such questions require further research into the archives of Dutch social history.