Portret van een jonge vrouw 1890 - 1910

This small photographic print of a young woman was made by Delboy & Baer. With its decorative border, this work speaks to the late 19th century rise of photography as a means of preserving and performing social status. Looking closely, we see visual codes of class and gender: the man's pocket watch and the woman's modest dress speak to middle-class aspirations. Family portraits like these were often displayed in parlors, reinforcing social bonds and signaling respectability. This image raises questions about the power dynamics inherent in portraiture. Who is represented, and how? What stories do these images tell, and what do they leave out? Understanding the social and institutional context of photography allows us to see beyond the surface of these images and to engage with their complex and often contradictory meanings. To learn more, explore the archives of photography studios and delve into the social history of the medium.