Vrouw aan tafel 1907 - 1916

This is a photographic portrait of a woman at a table, made by Johannes Hendrikus Antonius Maria Lutz. The woman is likely from the Dutch middle class, which, during Lutz's lifetime, was becoming increasingly obsessed with depictions of domesticity and the nuclear family. The photograph's visual codes tell us a lot about the sitter's status. Her elaborate, formal hairstyle and the fashionable cut of her dress signal that she belongs to a wealthy social class. The flowers in the background and the vase also suggest that she has the leisure time and disposable income to engage in activities like home decoration. Yet, her proximity to a book also suggests that she is educated, which perhaps speaks to a more progressive mindset. To understand this image, we must consider the history of photography as an artistic medium, as well as the history of the Netherlands during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Only then will we be able to understand how the image creates meaning through its visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations.