Vaas met bloemen before 1878

This phototype print of flowers in a vase was created by Carlos Relvas in Portugal. Relvas's work reflects the increasing popularity of photography as both an artistic and commercial medium in the 19th century. Relvas was not only an accomplished photographer, he was also a landowner who was able to invest heavily in photographic equipment. His privileged social position allowed him to create images that reflected the aesthetic values of the Portuguese elite. The arrangement of the flowers and the vase on the table suggest a carefully constructed composition, designed to appeal to a particular taste for refined domesticity. It subtly promotes an image of wealth and sophistication, very different from the harsh realities of rural life for most people in Portugal at that time. To fully understand the social context of Relvas's photography, we need to look at a wide range of historical resources, including studies of Portuguese social history, the history of photography, and the history of art institutions.