Portret van een zittende religieuze vrouw in het zwart, met cornetmuts en rozenkrans 1880 - 1890

This photograph by Maison Anglaise captures a seated religious woman in black, adorned with a cornet muts and rosary. Photography in this era was a meticulous craft, involving the careful manipulation of chemicals and light-sensitive materials, quite different from today’s point-and-shoot ease. Notice the sepia tones, achieved through a specific developing process. The final print, mounted on card stock, has an inherent preciousness. It speaks to the sitter’s status and the value placed on capturing her likeness. The very act of posing for such a portrait was a significant event, a deliberate construction of identity. Consider the labor involved, from the photographer’s expertise in capturing the image to the craftspeople producing the rosary beads. These details remind us that even seemingly simple images are products of complex processes, skill, and intention. They blur the boundaries between art, craft, and social documentation.