Portret van een meisje 1867 - 1884

Wegner & Mottu created this portrait of a girl using photography, sometime in the late 19th century. The image offers us a glimpse into the world of bourgeois families in Europe, possibly the Netherlands, at the time. Photography, a relatively new medium, was becoming increasingly accessible. This made it possible for middle-class families to commission portraits, which had previously been a privilege reserved for the aristocracy. This portrait shows a girl dressed in a formal dress and shoes, she appears to be posing in a photographer's studio. The girl's placement next to the chair, her reserved posture, and serious facial expression are visual markers of middle-class status. The photo presents the sitter in a way that aimed to project respectability and upward mobility. The historian can help us to understand how photography democratized portraiture while simultaneously reinforcing social hierarchies. It's important to delve deeper, using resources like historical archives and studio records, to fully grasp the complex meanings embedded within this seemingly simple photograph.