Portret van een vrouw, echtgenote van D. van der Made 1869 - 1885

This photographic portrait of the wife of D. van der Made was made by Johann Georg Hameter, sometime in the late 19th century. This is an albumen print, a process that coats paper in egg white to create a glossy surface for the photographic emulsion. In its time, it was a popular choice for portraits, largely because it allowed for sharp detail. The image is small, an affordable token of remembrance. It is also a reminder of the labor involved. Not just that of the photographer, but also the sitter, who would have had to hold still for an extended period. The very stillness of this image speaks volumes. Consider also the implied labor of the sitter herself, perhaps a middle-class woman, whose social standing would be reflected in the way she chose to present herself. Photography democratized portraiture, but it also captured social distinctions, making them permanent in the photographic emulsion. The history of photography is deeply entwined with evolving concepts of identity, class, and representation.