Portret van onbekende kinderen uit de familie Marmelstein 1860 - 1868

Peter Carstensen captured this small photographic print of the Marmelstein children, at an unknown date. The photograph's charm resides in its candid depiction of childhood in a bygone era. In the 19th century, photography studios emerged as important sites of social display, akin to today’s social media. Families would commission portraits as emblems of their status and taste. The children’s clothing – the patterned dresses, the boy's embroidered suit – speaks to the family’s aspirations. The studio setting, complete with painted backdrop and fringed furniture, adds to the performative aspect of the photograph. What makes this image particularly interesting is its focus on children. How were children positioned within the family and society at large? We might also consider the role of the photographer and the studio. Who were the artists catering to this growing market for photographic portraiture, and how did they shape the visual language of the era? Answering these questions involves studying the history of photography, its technological advancements, and its dissemination through different social classes.